The Whakapapa of Ranginui and Papatuanuku

This week, we learnt more about the Atua and children of Ranginui and Papatuanuku. 

Haumiatiketike is the atua of wild and uncultivated foods. To explore our learning about Haumiatiketike, Ximena showed us some harakeke (flax) weaving she has been doing as harakeke is one of the children of Haumiatiketike. Then, we did some weaving.

Rūaumoko is the atua of earthquakes and volcanoes. Here is a story to learn more about this atua that we watched together.

After we learned about all of Ranginui and Papatuanuku's children, we did a sorting activity to sort who the atua's children belong to (e.g. Rongomātane's children are kūmara and carrots).

This afternoon we put together all of our learning so far and did some quick role plays of the whakapapa of Ranginui and Papatuanuku. Check out Seesaw to watch the videos.

Ask us at home to talk about the whakapapa of Ranginui and Papatuanuku!

Inquiry: Our Stories - The stories of Tangaroa and Tāwhirimatea

Through our inquiry 'Our Stories'  we will learn about whakapapa. Whakapapa is a Māori concept that helps us to make connections between our past, our environment and who we are today. We have been learning our pepeha (our family whakapapa) and have also begun to learn about the whakapapa of Te Ao Māori (the Māori world). Māori whakapapa begins with the story of Ranginui, Papatūanuku and their children. 

You can watch the story of Ranginui and Papatūanuku here:

This week we learned about two of Rangi and Papa's children: Tangaroa (the guardian or the ocean) and Tāwhirimatea (the guardian of the wind). We made windmills to connect to Tāwhirimatea who will make our windmills move outside, and we also went to the beach to learn about the story of Tangaroa. 

We did a quick beach clean-up to show how we can be kaitiaki of Tangaroa's children (all the sea creatures) then had some fun creating some art inspired by them. You might spot some whales, octopi and fish!

Matariki writing

This week, Tautoru have been learning about the Matariki stars. We now know that there are 9 stars that are kaitiaki of different things.

Waiti = watches over the freshwater environment

Waita = watches over the saltwater environment

Tupuanuku = kaitiaki of food from the ground

Tupuarangi = kaitiaki of forests and birds

Waipunarangi = kaitiaki of rain, hail and snow

Ururangi = kaitiaki of the wind

Pohutukawa = kaitiaki of those who have passed away

Hiwa-i-te-rangi = the wishing star

Matariki = connecting everyone together

Here is a website that gives more information.

Check out some of our finished writing pieces from the week.