Inquiry

A thriving collaboration

Hoani Papita Kahawai (Ngāti Hinētu) runs into Hori Te Waru (Ngāti Apakura) one summer evening on the path near St Paul’s church. Each is a leader within their hapū. Their alliance has seen their hapū work together farming the land at Rangiaowhia.

Sometimes there is competition between them. But today, as they stand talking in the humid evening, there is only pride. Fields of wheat stretch to the horizon. Their eyes see peach trees, orchards, horses, pigs, dairy cows and their new flour mill. When this wheat is harvested, they will grind it at their own mill.

They see the churches as well. Over recent years missionaries have competed with each other to see who can get the most people to join their church. Ngāti Hinētu invited the Catholic priest, Father Pezant, to live with them. He has baptised 1042 adults and children so far. Ngāti Apakura have Protestants living amongst them. The hapū have three churches.

Both men are sure this year's flour production will beat Otawhao, their most fierce business competitor. All the flour is bagged and taken by boat down the Waipā, out to sea and into the harbour at Onehunga. From here it is bought by the hungry Auckland Pākehā. More and more of them arrive each day.

Key Questions

• What do fluids and solids do, what determines their shape, and can they be compressed?

• How is Oobleck like a fluid?

• How is Oobleck like a solid?