Te+Reo+Maori

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**Term 3** **LI: Find the meaning of Maori symbols.**

**Have you ever seen a bone or jade pendant with a particular Maori symbol on it? These carvings and symbols have a very special meaning or story behind it.** **The carvings which are based on Maori designs in particular have special significance.** **The pre-European Maori had no written language so tribal history and the stories of the gods were kept using many forms of fine arts and crafts ranging from basket and cloth weaving to complex wood, bone, shell and jade carving. These artifacts were then handed down through generations of tribal elders and became sacred objects or treasures "Taonga", telling the history of a tribe and taking on the spirits of past great leaders and warriors who had worn them.** **It is believed that a carving which is worn with respect or given and received with love, takes on part of the spirit of those who wear or handle it. In this way it becomes a spiritual link between people spanning time and distance. A carving that has been worn by family or tribal members over many generations contains the spirit of all of those people and is truly a great and powerful treasure.** **The Maori have a great respect for nature and have many legends about the creation of the earth and all its inhabitants. Many of these legends revolve around the spirits or gods who created or protect each part of their world such as the mountains, the forests, the lakes and the creatures of the sea.** **Most carvings combine elements from several areas of mythology which interact with each other to tell a story. Each element has its own specific meaning and the way they are portrayed or combined is what gives a carving its own special character.**

**Spiral - Koru** ****T********he spiral is a Koru, represents the fern frond as it opens bringing new life and purity to the world. It also represents peace, tranquility and spirituality along with a strong sense of re growth or new beginnings.**** ****The Koru is**** ****also often associated with nurturing so w********hen interlocked with others is frequently used to represent the strength and purity of a loving relationship within a family.****

****Twist - Crossover**** **The twist with its crisscross form represents the many paths of life and love and as such is regarded as the original eternity symbol. The single twist in particular shows the joining together of two people for eternity. Even though they sometimes move away from each other on their own journeys, they will always come together again sharing their lives and blending to become one. It tells how the strength of bond of friendship, loyalty and love will last forever.** **The double and triple twists have a similar meaning but refer more to the joining of two peoples or cultures rather than individuals.** **They also refer the the three baskets of knowledge.**

**Fish Hook - Hei Matau** ****These very stylised fish hooks represent strength, prosperity,abundance, fertility and a great respect for the sea.**** ****It also is said to provide good luck and safety when traveling over water so is often worn by travelers.**** ****Hei-Matau are also symbols of power and authority which are held in great reverence by the Maori people.**** ****They were used as a practical tool for fishing and were often decorated as a sign of respect for the creatures of the sea.**** ****There are many styles of Hei-Matau from the true hook designs to the more ornamental styles which became treasured heirlooms for generations following.****

****Manaia**** ****The Manaia is an ancient mythical being with a birds head and a human form. It is said to be the messenger between the earthly world of mortals and the domain of the spirits illustrating the strong links the Maori people have with spirituality and the spirit world.****

****It is a holder of great spiritual energy and is a guardian against evil. The Manaia can be seen blended into many Maori designs with subtle differences between tribes.**** ****The Manaia is often depicted with the three fingers of birth, life and death. It can also be shown with a fourth finger representing the afterlife and describing the circle of life.****

****Circle**** ****The closed circle is said to represent the circle of life which is has no beginning or end, is seamless and of which we are all a part. It also tells of the stars and planets which are part of the circle of life and contain the knowledge of our origins.****

****It is often used to enclose other elements such as the Koru, linking love and new life or new beginnings with the circle of life.**** ****For an artist the circle represents the relationship or oneness between the artist and his craft, bringing together head, hand and heart.****

****Hei Tiki**** ****The Tiki is a very ancient symbol and is by far the least understood so there are a number of legends about its meaning.**** ****Some say he came from the stars and that he was the first man of the world. He is also often depicted with webbed feet which suggests a strong link to the creatures of the sea.**** ****Tiki represent ancestors and the spiritual value increases with successive ownership. Hei means to suspend. The ancestral pendant, the hei tiki, was hung around the neck, close to the throat.****

****Toki - Adze**** **This design represents the Toki or Adz which was used to carve the great canoes and also to cut and work timber for the fortresses or Pahs in which the Maori lived. It was developed as a ceremonial inherited Taonga (treasure).** **It was such an important tool in Maori life that it became regarded as a symbol of power, authority and good character.** **It is also the mark of the craftsman and artist. A toki also symbolizes strength and courage.**

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LI: Find the meaning of the Maori place names.

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LI: To be able to greet a person in Maori

Write using speech bubbles how you would greet someone in a group or individual situation.
=Greetings=

**Kia ora** Hi **Tēnā koe** Hello (to one person) **Tēnā kōrua** Hello (to two people) **Tēnā koutou** Hello (to three or more people) At**āmaria Good morning** **M****ō****rena Good morning**

=Inquiring Question=

**Kei te pēhea koe?** How are you?

=Responses=

**Kei te pai ahau** I’m good **Ka nui te ora** I’m great **Me koe?** And you? = = =Farewells=

**Haere rā** Goodbye (to someone leaving) **E noho rā** Goodbye (to someone staying) **Ka kite anō** See you again **Hei konā** See you later Now that you have a general idea about greetings, try out our [|interactive conversations]. Click on the Korero Maori Icon just above. Or find out about Māori protocol like for [|visiting a marae or meeting house].

Classroom Treaty

Today we are going to create our classroom treaty but first of all we need to know what a treaty is!! Questions, questions, questions!!

1. What is a treaty?? A treaty is a settlement or agreement arrived at through negotiation.

2. Who is involved?? A treaty gives rise to binding obligations between parties who make them.

3. Why is a treaty important?? It outlines the rights and responsibilities of the parties as they are agreed upon.

4. What should go in our classroom treaty??  In your group, you will use 'ALL WRITE ROUND ROBIN' - In teams, each person will take turns to respond orally and EVERYONE will write every response on their own piece of paper.

5. Do you know about the 'Treaty of Waitangi'?? The Treaty of Waitangi takes its name from the place in the Bay of Islands where it was first signed, on __6 February 1840__. This day is now a public holiday in New Zealand. The Treaty is an agreement, in Maori and English, that was made between the British Crown and about 540 Maori rangatira (Chiefs).

Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson  had the task of securing British sovereignty over New Zealand. He relied on the advice and support of, among others, James Busby <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 160%;">, the British Resident in New Zealand. The Treaty was prepared in just a few days. Missionary Henry Williams and his son Edward translated the English draft into Maori overnight on __4 February__. About 500 Maori debated the document for a day and a night before it was signed on 6 February.