The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 8, Issue 1 (May 1, 1933)
Fantail and Orator
Fantail and Orator.
One of the prettiest poi dances I ever witnessed was one performed in the old tribal meeting-house at Maketu, Bay of Plenty, many years ago. A band of girls imitated, as they swung their tapping poi balls, the movements of the little fantail, as it turned from side to side and fluttered its feathers. And the Maori orator of the past generation—he is not quite past yet—was not above taking a lesson, too, from the beautiful little bird. The speaker of the old school, parading up and down before his audience on the village green, in the movements of the taki, with his taiaha or mere in his hand, imitates the action of the fantail. He jumps this way and that, turning quickly, and imparting a quiver to the weapon in his hand, like the bird's flirting tail. The fantail squeaks and pipes its “te-te-te” as it dances and darts after its insect food. So does the posturing speechmaker, and “te-te-te!” he ejaculates as he quivers the weapon.
There is an expression applied in songs to a great orator or leader of his people, “taku manu - hakahaka.” Literally it means “my dancing bird”; it refers to the ceremonial manner of the chieftain's speechmaking.