Embedded Files
Untitled: Jun 13, 2021 5:04 PM.webmInstructions
Key Ideas
Trees and forests are critical to life on earth.
People must learn to respect and care for our forests if they are to be available for future generations.
Key Text: TIMBER (hard copy)
Read the story in this Journal
Click on the journal
Complete the tasks.
Watch this Video created by the sand artist Marcus Winter
BEGINNING FROM NOTHING For Mäori everything is connected. People, plants, air, birds, water, fish, animals and land all have a special life-force of their own, interwoven together like one huge flax mat. In the beginning there was no sky, no sea and no earth. There was only darkness and nothing much else. Then from infinite potential came Earth Mother, her name Papatüänuku, and Ranginui, Sky Father. They lovingly embraced, producing many children born into darkness. Because Papa and Rangi were so special, all their children were born with important responsibilities to steward different parts of the environment, the world as we know it today. Papa and Rangi were very much in love, holding on tight to one another for a very long time. Until one day their children, who had grown tired of living in a world of nothingness and darkness, decided they needed light to grow and develop themselves away from their parents’ embrace. The children came together to work out what they should do. Tümatauenga, who had a fierce warrior heart, offered to cut the tie between Rangi and Papa. But Tänemähuta, the guardian of humankind and the forests, thought Rangi and Papa could be separated yet still have the whole family remain together. Täne thought long and hard and came up with the idea that Ranginui could go up above to create the sky and Papatüänuku could go below to form the earth. After many discussions the children finally agreed with their brother Tänemähuta to separate their parents. One by one the children tried to part their parents. Rongomätäne, the watcher of cultivated foods, tried with no success. Haumia Tiketike, the steward of uncultivated food, tried – but no luck. Then it was the turn of Tangaroa, the keeper of the sea, but even he couldn’t part them. For all their efforts the children could not prize their parents apart. After some consideration Tänemähuta came up with another solution. Making himself strong and tall like a mighty kauri tree, he placed his shoulders against his mother and his feet against his father. He pushed and pushed. Finally Rangi and Papa started to move in opposite directions, crying with sadness as they let go of one another. Täne kept pushing and heaving with all his strength until Rangi became the sky above and Papa the earth below. The children felt the warmth of the first day, filled with hope of the times ahead. And one brother, Täwhirimätea, chose to join Ranginui in the sky making air currents, wind and storms. Now that Mother Earth and Sky Father were in place, Täne got thinking again and decided the world needed people to enjoy the beauty of the earth he helped make. So he took some clay, cleverly moulded it into the shape of a woman and breathed life into her. The earth maiden, Hine Ahu One, came to life. And so the human race was born. Read the story about THE BEGINNING
Read the story about THE BEGINNING
Think About (Icon)
Maori Perspective:
Within Te Ao Maori (the world of Maori), is the belief that everything is interconnected. People, land and animals all have a special life force -mauri- which are all linked to each other.
The practice of protecting our environment is called kaitiakitanga.
Read: The Lorax, Rata me te Rakau, Heartbeat (SJ June 2012)
What is the theme of all 3 stories?
How did the main characters respond to their environment?
What is the message from the authors?
The Lorax
The Lorax
JJ57-Rata me te Rakau (5).pdfRata me te Rakau
Heartbeat
Heartbeat
Hard Copy
CREATE
Research a Tree
Definitions
Possum Facts
Page updated
Report abuse