Hinekirikiri is the female guardian of the intertidal zone. Within te ao Māori, seashores occur at the border of the realms of Tangaroa (god of the sea) and Tāne (god of the forest). Many pūrākau are set at this boundary. Similarly, there are many tikanga that are observed there and support the survival and management of this area of environmental richness.
Beaches are places of great importance to Māori as sources of food. Each iwi has its own particular protocols to observe when visiting coastal sites or gathering any sea-based resources. It is good to arrange for someone from your local iwi to visit to discuss these protocols with students. Introduction of kupu Māori will encourage development of dual perspectives on understanding this environment.
Kuputaka
| Glossary of kupu Māori mō te ara o Hinekirikiri | |
| ākau | rocky shore |
| hāpua | lagoon |
| hāroto | rock pool |
| huamutu | whelk |
| ika | fish |
| kaikiko | carnivore |
| kaimoana | seafood |
| kaiota | herbivore |
| kaitiakitanga | guardianship of the environment |
| kawau | shag |
| kōurarangi/meroiti ika | zooplankton |
| kōuraura | shrimp |
| kuku | mussel |
| mānawa | mangrove |
| meroiti tipu | phytoplankton |
| moana | sea |
| mōwhiti | sandhopper |
| ngaeti | periwinkle |
| ngākihi | limpet |
| ngā manu o te moana | seabirds |
| one kirikiri | shingle shore |
| onepū | sandy shore |
| pāpaka | crab |
| pātangatanga | sea star |
| pātītī tai | sea grasses |
| pātitotito | barnacle |
| petipeti | jellyfish |
| pūkohu wai | algae |
| pūngāwerewere/pūwerewere | spider |
| pūrei | sedge |
| rāhui | closed season |
| rimurimu | seaweed |
| tāhuahua | sand dune |
| tāhuahua | dune |
| tai | tide |
| taihua | tidal zone |
| taikoraha | mudflat |
| tātahi | beach |
| tio | oyster |
| tōrea | oystercatcher |
| turituri pourewa | stilt |
| wahapū | estuary |
| whanaungatanga | relatedness |
| wīwī | rushes |
Download the kuputaka as a PDF.
Related content and activity ideas
Hub resources with te reo Māori is a curation of resources that have been translated into te reo Māori and a number of resources that feature both te reo Māori and English.
Estuaries – a Māori perspective supports students to engage with this dynamic environment from a te ao Māori perspective.
Use some of the kupu during the Beach visits – habitats and food webs activity.
