Te Kupenga Mōteatea was chosen after many hours of reading and researching Tuwharetoa - History of the Maori People of the Taupo District (Grace, Te.H) 1959. The storyline of Te Kupenga involves friendship, love, conflict, insult, war and revenge. In this essay I will describe what Te Kupenga Mōteatea means and give a quick rundown on the story that lead up to the singing of the Mōteatea. I will endeavor to explain how Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Tuwharetoa and Ngati Te Rangiita are connected to me and why, then I will explore the notions of Mana, Tapu, Utu, …show more content…
Conflict theory suggests that human behavior in social contexts results from conflicts between competing groups. Social order is based on manipulation and control by dominant groups. Life is characterized by conflict not consensus. Te Kupenga shows conflict theory being used by Ngati Kahungunu Shown through the Chiefs of Aotearoa, superiors to all below them and controlling of all situations that involve there iwi, this is seen through the levels of domination the highest domination being the Chief and there family line down to the …show more content…
Kahu knew that by taking her Mōteatea to Chief Te Huehue that her affliction would be avenged using the Maori law. Conflict theory (Karl Marx) was shown by the behavior Te Aria portrayed due to the conflict between his rival Ngati Te Rangiita and the insult he felt from his people resulting in a show of power and domination through war and revenge. Conflict theory again sets in when Chief Te Huehue steps in as the higher dominance and uses the law to win the domination for his iwi. This is seen today in social work context through diverse human behavior, such as educational practices that either sustain or challenge the status quo, cultural customs regarding the elderly, and criminal behavior. I have discovered that Maori Law and conflict theory weave into each other in today’s day and age and yesteryears. Although today it is seen in the government’s law and social workers working for the right of their people. This work of domination is achieved primarily through the power of ideology--our thoughts, values, beliefs, world views, norms, and expectations--through a process known as "cultural