Raranga: Supporting rangatahi Hauora through the integration of Kapa haka in music therapy practice.

This action research project explores the development of music therapy practice through the integration of Kapa haka into music therapy. The focus is to support Hauora amongst rangatahi in a school setting. This research was developed during a practicum placement at an outreach highschool for a music therapy service in Aotearoa New Zealand. The connection between te ao Māori and music therapy has previously been documented through kaupapa Māori research studies, however, the literature in this area is sparse. This research project aimed to explore how the integration of Kapa haka into music therapy practice can support rangatahi Hauora. Over three action research cycles, I planned, commenced, evaluated, and reflected upon focused research actions. Thematic analysis was adopted to find themes within the three action cycles and inductive and deductive analysis was used to identify four kaupapa evident across the research cycles; Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Tuakana-teina, and Tino rangatiratanga. The findings of this research show that the integration of Kapa haka into music therapy practice can support rangatahi Hauora through the raranga of the kaupapa; Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Tuakana-teina, and Tino rangatiratanga. Raranga is the Māori term for weaving or to weave. In this exegesis, raranga also refers to the interconnected and relational nature of the findings.