Estuaries – a Māori perspective
In this activity, students explore Māori perspectives concerning estuaries.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
explain how a Māori legend can show aspects of Māori thinking and living in early settlement of New Zealand.
recognise some Māori words for common items found in an estuary
explain the concept of kaitiakitanga in simple terms
describe why people value estuaries from a Māori and non-Māori perspective.
Kaitiakitanga
NIWA's Maori development officer, Apanui Skipper and Weno Iti, the Te Kūwaha manager (NIWA Māori Development Centre), describe what kaitiakitanga means to them.
Download the Word file (see below) for:
introduction/background notes
what you need
what to do
items found in estuaries
Māori name cards.
Related content
The article Estuaries – a context for learning has links to resources that cover biological and ecological functions, cultural and economic aspects, geological and geographical features and human impacts on estuaries.
Glossary of kupu Māori mō te ara o Hinekirikiri (Māori words associated with the intertidal zone) is also available in download as a PDF.
Useful link
Te Ara's Mātaitai – shellfish gathering provides an overview of traditional kaimoana harvesting.
