taku kuru pounamu - university of waikato
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TakuKuruPounamu
LeoniePihama,HineitimoanaGreensill,DonnaCampbell,RihiTeNanaandJennyLee
FirstPublished2015byTeKotahiResearchInstituteHamiltonAotearoa/NewZealandISBN978-0-9941217-1-4©TeKotahiResearchInstitute,2015Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,withoutpriorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.Photocredits
VabePhotography©:CoverphotoRawhitiroaPhotography©:Pages2,4,30,32,38.
www.rawhitiroa.comRobSuisted©:Pages6,20,34.
www.naturespic.comJessBoveyPhotography©:Pages8,22,24,26,44,52.
www.jessbovey.comUniversityofWaikato:Page10Skipperwhānau:Pages12,40LeoniePihama:Pages14,42,50,54JessicaMatehuiruaWhite:Page16Greensillwhānau:Page18DonnaCampbell:Page28AwhinaRangitutia:Page36MoeEdmonds:Page46AngelineGreensill:Page48,56
DesignandPrint
FusionPrintHamilton
TheTiakinaTePāHarakekeProjectwassupportedby:
Kiātātoutamariki.Eitinoaana,nātearoha.
HeMihiTēneitemihikiakoutoukatoaitautokomaiitekaupapao‘TiakinaTePāHarakeke’,otirāitewhakaputangaotēneitaongaheiwhakamanawaingāwhānaumengāhaporiirotoiārātoumahiwhakatuputamariki.Kei ngā puna o te kī, kei ngāmātāpunamātauranga iwhaiwāhi ki ngā uiui, ki ngāwānanga, kua rangatira tekaupapaneiiakoutou!Keingākanohihōmiromiro,meikorekoutouheiaumiriitātātoutaongakiapīataataai.
KupuWhakataki‘Takukurupounamu’(Mypreciousadornment)isawhakataukīthatspeaksofachildwhoislovedandcherishedbytheirwhānau.Itrepresentsforustheessenceofthispublication,anexpressionofthecollectivewisdomandvaluesofourancestors,andtheadorationthatwehaveforourtamariki.Aselectionofwhakataukī,orancestralsayings,formthebasisofthispublication.Eachwhakataukīreflects thecentralityandimportanceofchildrenin theMāoriworld.Theyalsogiveinsightsintopracticesthatupliftourtamariki,mokopunaandwiderwhānau.‘Takukurupounamu’wasbornoutoftheresearchproject‘TiakinaTePāHarakeke’whichexploresthemanaoftepā harakeke, the collective values that nourish all whanau members. ‘Tiakina Te Pā Harakeke’ provided anopportunity to investigateandunderstandmore fullyourknowledge,beliefsandpractices relating towhānau,andmore specifically childrearing, in the Māori world. What we found was confirmation that our own tikanga, ourculturalpractices,areaboutenhancingthewell-beingoftamarikiastaongawithinourwhānau,hapūandiwi.Thisisasmallselectionofwhakataukī.Manyofthemremindusthatweneedtobemindfulofouractions.Wemustalwaystreateachotherwithcareandrespect,especiallyourchildren.Ouractionsshouldensurethesafetyandwell-beingofourtamariki,mokopuna,andwhānau,andshouldneverbeharmful.Thesearecriticalmessagespassedtousbyour tūpuna.Theseancestralmessagesprovideuswithexamplesof traditionalchildrearingphilosophiesandpractices.Manyvaluablelessonsareencodedinthelanguageofwhakataukīandinthispublicationwetouchonbutafew.Indeciding which whakataukī should feature, it was important for us to acknowledge the voices of those whocontributed to ‘TiakinaTePāHarakeke’ and to include,wherepossible,whakataukī sharedwithus by kaumātuaduringourinterviews.Anumberofotherwhakataukīpertinent to thewhānaucontext,havealsobeenincludedasexamples of howwe can draw upon ancestral knowledge to support the care and nurturing of our tamariki andmokopunatoday.Whilethereisawealthofwhakataukīworthyofinclusioninthispublication,manywereunabletobeincluded,duetothetimeframeofthepublication.Wehopethatwehavedonejusticetothosewhakataukīthathavebeenincludedinthispublication.Wesetoutwithagoaltosharepositive,culturallyenrichedandeffectiveapproachestochildrearingasdefinedandpracticedbyourtūpuna. It isour sincerehope thatwehavedone thisand thatapplying theculturalknowledgeembodied in thesewhakataukīwillenrichandenhancetheexperiencesofourtamariki,mokopunaandwhānau.Thesearegiftsofmanalefttousbyourtūpunatosharewithpresentandfuturegenerations.
Hokiakitōūkaipō
Returntoyourplaceoforigin
Ūkaipōrelatestothesucklingofachildontheirmother’sbreastatnight.Inabroadercontextitrelatestoone’sancestralland,aplaceofnurturingandofspiritualandemotionalstrength.Weareencouragedtoreturntoourūkaipōtoensurecurrentandfuturegenerationsknowwheretheyarefromandaregroundedintheiridentity.
Māngāpakiakaetūaiterākau
Withstrongrootsatreewillstand
Apersoncannotstandifthereisnothingsupportingthem.Weneedtoknowwherewearefrom,whereourrootsareandtomaintainthosetiestowhānau,hapūandiwitoenableustoensurestrongconnectionsforcurrentandfuturegenerations.
Kotahitekākano,henuingāhuaoterākau
Atreecomesfromoneseed,butbearsmanyfruit
Thehua,orfruits,referredtointhiswhakataukīarechildren.Itremindsusthatwemustnurtureourchildren,wemustcareforthemandwemusttendtotheirneedssothattheygrowstrongandwell.
Hetaongatemokopuna
Grandchildrenareprecious
Agrandchildisveryprecious.Theyareafountainforancestralknowledgeandaneverlastingreflectionof thosewhohavegonebefore.They carry our strength and that of our ancestors.Theyareourfuturegenerationsandwithoutthemwewouldceasetoexist.
Nātemoaitakahiterātā
Therātāwastrampledbythemoa
The early influences in a child’s life are significant in their growth and development as aperson.Forthisreasonitisimportantthatchildrenarenurturedpositivelywhentheyareyoungandprotectedfrombeing‘trampledupon’.Doingsowillensurethattheydevelopintopeoplethatareconfidentandjust.
Eharatakutoaitetoatakitahi,engaritakutoahetoatakimano
Mystrengthisnotminealone,butthestrengthofmany
Providingandcaringfortamarikiisextremelydemandingandstressfuliflefttotheindividual.Havingsupportfromthewhānauandcommunityprovidesagreatdealofreliefforparentsandalsohelpstoensurethewell-beingofthecollective.
Tūngiateururua,kiatupuwhakaritoritotetupuoteharakeke
Setfiretotheundergrowthsothatthenewflaxshootsmaysprout
Clearingawaytheundergrowthenablesthehealthygrowthofharakeke.Inthewhānaucontext,there may be issues that need to be dealt with from time to time. Ensuring that they areaddressedallowswhānautomoveforwardinapositivewayandtoflourish.
Tamaitiākonakitekāinga,tūngakitemarae,tauana
Achildwholearnsathomestandsonthemaraewithdignity
Beingraisedwellathomeiscriticallyimportant.Whenchildrenaregivenguidanceandtaughtby their elders and parents how to conduct themselves properly, they are able to actappropriatelyinpublic.
Matuarautia
Raiseyourchildrencollectively
Raisingachildisnotanindividualendeavour,butratherajobforthemany.Whenachildisraisedcollectively, itbuilds theirconfidence.Theyknowwhotheyare, theyknowwhotheirrelativesare,andeachoneofthoserelativesiscollectivelyresponsibleforthechild’ssafetyandwell-being.
KiamaharakiaRona
RememberRona
ThiswhakataukīmakesreferencetothestoryofRona.OnenightRonawentouttofetchwaterandtrippedontherootofatreewhenthemoonhidbehindtheclouds.Shecursedatthemoonandwastakenawayforhertransgression.Thisisaremindertoustobecarefulofwhatwesayordo.
Hetaonganuitetūpato
Cautionisgreatlyprized
IntheMāoriworlditisseenasagoodthingtobecautious.Teachingchildrentobemindfulofthingsaroundthemandtoactwithcaution,particularlyinsituationswherethereisanelementofdanger,couldpotentiallysavethemfromharm.
Tamaitipiripoho,hearohawhāereere
Amother’slove,abreastclingingchild
Theclosenessofachildtotheirparentsisindicativeofalovingrelationshipinwhichthechildis cherishedandmade to feel likean importantpartof thewhānau.Sucha relationshipalsogivesachildasenseofsecurityandadesiretoremainclosetotheirwhānauastheygetolder.
Kotātetamarikihewāwāhitahā
Achild’sroleistobreakthecalabash
Ourtūpunaacknowledgethenaturaltendenciesofayoungchild.Childrenareinquisitiveandwillbreakthings.Thisisallpartoftheirplayandlearning.Asparentsitisourresponsibilityto teach our children to respect people’s belongings while at the same time nurturing theirnaturallyinquisitivenaturebycreatingasafeenvironmentforlearningandexploring.
Nāuiwhatutekākahu,hetānikotāku
Youwovethecloak,Iaddedtheborder
As a cloak is woven before the ornamental border is added, those raising children areresponsibleforthecharacteroftheirchildandothersenhancewhathasalreadybeenacquired.Contributions to thedevelopmentof skills inother specialities are seen toadd theelaboratetrim,orembellishment.
KoHinetītamakoe,matawaianatewhatuitetirohangaatu
YouarelikeHinetītama,asightthatcausestheeyestoglisten
Thisspeaksofthebeautyandsacrednessofwomenandisaremindertotreatouryounggirlsandwomenwithabsoluterespect.
Takumāhuritōtara
Myyoungtōtara
Thisphraseisatermofendearmentthatisparticularlysuitedtoyoungboys.Itacknowledgesboth the strength and fragilityofouryoungmenand is abeautifulphrase thatwecanuse toshowouradorationforthem.
Tepikooterākau,tērātetipuotemāhuri
Asthetreeisbent,soshallitgrow
Childrencanbelikenedtoayoungsaplingasitgrows.Inordertogrowhealthyandwelltheymustbenurtured.Intheirlearningandgrowingtheycanalsobemouldedinaparticularway.Positivecontributionstotheirdevelopmentwhiletheyareyoungwillenablethemtoflourishaspeople.
Hetaorākauetaeatekaro,hetaokupuekoreetaeatekaro
Thethrustofaspearcanbeavoided,butnotthethrustofwords
Wordsarepowerful.Theyshouldbeusedcarefullyandinwaysthatacknowledgethemanaofboth thewords spoken and the person spoken to. Thismeanswemust speakwith care andarohatoourchildren.Tospeakinwaysthatdemeanorabuseothersislikeaspeartotheheartandsoul.
Mātetuakanakatōtikateteina,māteteinakatōtikatetuakana
Olderandyoungersiblingscontributeequallytoeachother’sgrowthandlearnfromoneanother
Thetuakana-teinarelationshipisareciprocalonewitheachhavingresponsibilitiesfor,andlearningsfrom,theother.Whiletheoldersiblingmayoftenbearolemodelorexamplefortheyounger sibling to follow, there will still be things that they can learn from their youngerwhānaumembers.
Hekaipoutakamekinikiniatu,hekaipoutakamehorehoreatu,
mātetamaititeiho
Pinchoffabitofthepottedbird,peeloffabitofthepottedbird,butleavetheinsideforthechild
Acriticalaspectofraisingchildrenisthatweprovidethemwiththebestcarethatwepossiblycan.Ensuring that theirneedsaremetbeforeourown isanaturalpartofbeingaparentandguaranteesthewell-beingofourchildrenaboveallelse.
Heititangataetupu,heititokieititonuiho
Asmallpersonmaygrow,butasmalladzeremainssmallforever
People are always more valuable than material things. The importance of keeping this inperspectivecannotbeunderestimated.Byplacingourwell-beingandgrowthat thecentreofouraspirationswearesupportingourchildrenandwhānauinameaningfulandpowerfulway.
Tetauotakuate
Theseatofmyaffections
This simple phrase is a beautiful expression of the absolute love that one has for anotherperson.Itisamuchusedtermofendearmentthatwecansaytoourchildrentoletthemknowhowmuchtheyarecherishedandlovedbytheirwhanau.
Itinoaana,hepitomata
Onlyalittlemorselwithrawpotential
Latentinakūmaraseed,orindeedanylivingthing,istheabilitytogrowandproducemoreofitskind.Likethekūmara,childrentooarefullofpotential.Ourjobasparentsandwhānauistoensure that the potential of our children is realisedbybelieving in them, nurturing themandsupportingthemtodevelopandflourishaspeople.
Kohikohiangākākano,whakariteatepārekereke,kiapuāwaingāhua
Gathertheseeds,preparetheseedbedcarefully,andyouwillbegiftedwithabundanceoffood
Childrearing in theMāoriworld is often associatedwith the cultivationof kūmara.Like theenvironment of a child, a pārekereke, or seedbed, requires the right conditions for kūmaraseedlingstoflourish.Byprovidingahealthyandnurturingenvironmentforourchildren,wecanbecertainthattheytoowillblossom,growandflourish.
Tekukuotemanawa
Thepincersoftheheart
Embodied in this whakataukī are the feelings of love and affection that we have for ourchildren.Makingsurethattheyknowhowmuchweadorethemisanimportantwayofaffirmingtheirplaceinthewhānauandsupportingtheirwell-being.
Takuheipiripiri,takuheimokimoki,takuheitāwhiri,takukatitaramea
Mypendantofscentedmoss,mypendantoffragrantfern,
mypendantofaromaticshrubs,mysweet-smellinglocketofspeargrass
Thisrefrainwasoftensungbyamotherwhilenursingasanexpressionofloveforherchild.Thefourplantsreferredtowereadmiredfortheirscentsandwereworninsatchelsaroundtheneck.Themetaphorofachildasafragrantlocketwornclosetohisorhermother’sbreastisabeautifulrepresentationofthelovebetweenaparentandtheirchild.
Tāumahirā,eteitikahurangi
Yourworkiswelldone,mylittletreasure
Recognisingourchildrenfor thecontributions that theymake to thewhānauandcommendingthemforthingsthattheyhavedonewellisimportantbothasaculturalpracticeandalsoasaway of developing confidence and self-esteem. This whakataukī is fitting as anacknowledgementoftheeffortsandaccomplishmentsofourtamariki.
Herākitua
Adaytocome
Lifemaybringmanydifficultiesandchallenges.Despitethis, therewillalwaysbetimesthatare joyful. The key thing to remember is thatwhen things are not going sowell, never losehope.Wecanalwaysbeassuredthat thesunwill riseagain tomorrowwith thepromiseofanewdayandthepossibilityofanewbeginning.