Planning pathways using freshwater resources
This interactive diagram provides a selection of pathways that allow for different approaches and starting points using resources about Aotearoa New Zealand’s freshwater systems. The aim is to assist educators with their planning of lessons and units of work by providing options that cover multiple science and mātauranga Māori concepts. This interactive uses selected resources – many more are curated in our freshwater topic. Use the filters to narrow your search.
The article Freshwater resources – planning pathways provides pedagogical suggestions and links to the science capabilities.
Click on the labels for links to supporting articles, media and student activities.
Download a PDF file of the transcript here.
Background image courtesy of Bernard Spragg.
Transcript
Freshwater systems
Ki uta ki tai refers to the concept of from the mountains to the sea. It acknowledges the journey that water makes across the land. Freshwater begins this journey as precipitation in the atmosphere and becomes part of freshwater systems that include streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and estuaries – before flowing to the sea or returning to the atmosphere. Freshwater is also held/stored as groundwater and in glaciers.
The following resources provide information about some of the components of freshwater systems.
Articles
Tōku awa koiora – curation of river resources
Te Repo – curation of repo (wetland) resources
Media
Learning about the water cycle – interactive
Te whakamahi i ngā rauemi o Tuihonoa Te Reo o Te Repo hei whakarite ara whakaako – interactive
Water distribution – video
Activities
Image: Braided river, Canterbury. Public domain.
Freshwater connections
The freshwater environment is a holistic system that connects landscapes, ecosystems and people. Freshwater connections can be physical, ecological, social, cultural or economic.
All freshwater occurs within a catchment – an area of land, often bordered by hills or mountains, in which the water is collected and through which it moves.
Catchments host ecosystems – the interactions/connections between plants, animals and microorganisms and the physical and chemical components of the natural environment.
Humans also have connections with freshwater. Water is the basis for all life. It is taonga, something to be cherished and looked after. For Māori, wai holds mauri – a spiritual life force that links the health of freshwater to everything that is connected to it.
The following resources provide information about the many connections within freshwater systems.
Articles
Tōku awa koiora – curation of river resources
Te Repo – curation of repo (wetland) resources
Media
Wai Māori – interactive
Awa and iwi – video
Waitī – reflecting on our freshwater environment – infographic
Activities
Image: Pūkeko. Public domain.
Mātauranga Māori
In te ao Māori, the human and non-human worlds are indivisible. There are kinship relationships and therefore responsibilities towards natural features. A healthy mauri is a sign that the awa, roto or repo is expressing its mana or spiritual power. Freshwater systems act as reservoirs of te reo, tikanga and mātauranga Māori.
The following resources provide information about mātauranga associated with freshwater systems.
Articles
Media
Wai Māori – interactive
Te whakamahi i ngā rauemi o Tuihonoa Te Reo o Te Repo hei whakarite ara whakaako – interactive
Te ao Māori and repo – video
Activities
Image: Raupō (bulrush). Public domain.
Freshwater restoration
Te mana o te wai – the holistic wellbeing of water – is key to environmental and human wellbeing. We can enhance both by restoring threatened freshwater ecosystems.
Articles
Rivers and Us – curation
Tōku awa koiora – curation
Repo (wetlands) – curation
Tuihonoa Te Reo o Te Repo – curation
Testing the waters – Connected article
Media
Stream health monitoring and assessment – interactive
Inquiry and action learning process – interactive
Activities
Image: Harakeke. J Christianson, CC BY 4.0.
Freshwater plants and animals
Streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands provide habitats for numerous plants and animals – including pests.
The following resources provide information about native, introduced and pest species that live in freshwater systems.
Articles
Media
Activities
Image: Red hooded orchid (Corybas carsei) at Whangamarino Wetland. Catherine Beard, CC BY 4.0.
Human impacts
Freshwater environments are affected by pressures from human activities. Land clearance and land use, modifications to freshwater systems, the introduction of exotic species, irrigation and climate change have impacts. These, in turn, have impacts on our culture, recreation, freshwater species, habitats, ecosystems, health and economy.
The degradation of our freshwater can impact the ability to maintain mātauranga Māori and access mahinga kai.
The following resources provide information about human impacts on freshwater.
Articles
Nutrients – resource curation
Media
Culverts, ramps and baffles – video
Wastewater – video
Land use – impacts on waterways – interactive
Our use of water – impacts on water quality – interactive
Activities
Image: Pivot irrigator, 123RF Ltd.
