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Mātauranga Māori

Takarangi/interlocking spiral Maori traditional carving pattern

Article

Māori knowledge of animals

Māori knowledge of animals is vast. This article is an introduction to Māori knowledge of a selected sample of animal ...

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Peter Buck studying Paratene Ngata making an eel basket.

Article

Mātauranga Māori and science

Mātauranga Māori is a modern term for the combined knowledge of Polynesian ancestors and the experiences of Māori living in ...

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Two children playing next to the sea with 2 organisation logos

Article

The 2024 science education summit

Science Education: Fit for Purpose was a national summit co-hosted on 2 July 2024 in Auckland by the Science Learning Hub Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao and Royal ...

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He tohu i te ngahere e mea ana kua kati

Article

Is poisoning pests the Māori way?

Some of those opposed to the use of 1080 poison to control pests say it’s ‘un-Māori’. Tame Malcolm unpacks these claims, arguing that to the contrary, ...

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Raupō plant (long slender leaves with seedheads) in the wild

Article

Could raupō help restore wetlands?

New research details the history of raupō from the time before people arrived in Aotearoa. It shows this resilient, opportunistic plant – and taonga species – ...

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Hilton Collier, a man stands in woolshed

Article

Hilton Collier

Hilton Collier (Ngāti Porou) is an agribusiness consultant who thinks all animals have mana in their own right and deserve to be treated with respect. This ...

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Head and shoulder image of Rauhina Scott-Fyfe.

Article

Rauhina Scott-Fyfe

Rauhina Scott-Fyfe (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) is the Māori Archivist at Uare Taoka o Hākena Hocken Collections held at the University of Otago. Rauhina is ...

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Two Paradise Shelducks ducks swimming in a lagoon.

Article

How do Māori ideas relate to animal ethics?

This article provides a summary of animal ethics and the Three Rs – replacement, reduction and refinement – using a kaupapa Māori approach. The following text ...

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Winiwini Kingi standing in front of a stream.

Article

Te Winiwini Kingi

Te Winiwini Kingi (Te Waiariki Ngāti Kororā) is a kaumātua and environmentalist working to restore the habitats on his ancestral land. This scientist profile is one ...

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Professor Eloise Jillings in front of Tāwharau Ora building

Article

Professor Eloise Jillings

Professor Eloise Jillings (Ngāti Maru Hauraki) is a veterinarian and educator at Massey University. Her leadership is critical to the education of veterinary students and particularly ...

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Fume hood with label in te reo Māori

Article

Dr Kimiora Hēnare

Kimiora Hēnare (Ngāti Hauā, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa) is a cancer researcher who studies the complex biology of tumours in efforts to harness the immune system ...

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Illustration by Isobel Te Aho-White from article Te Tapa Ingoa.

Article

Māori ethical ideas

In te ao Māori, all animals have mana by virtue of being loved descendants of ngā atua and must therefore be treated with respect. This article ...

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Extreme close-up of a sandfly biting human skin.

Article

Te aitanga pepeke

Pepeke is an animal grouping within te ao Māori. This group name equates to the insect world and calls to whakapapa in the concept of aitanga ...

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Men with fishing poles & fish, onshore and in waka, 2 tents, NZ

Article

Ngā ika a Tangaroa

Māori and their ancestors are island people – the moana is central to their spiritual and physical realms. For hundreds of years, Māori relied on Tangaroa ...

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Bellbird: Olive green, dark wing & tail feathers & curved beak

Article

Ngā manu a Tānemahuta

Aotearoa New Zealand is known worldwide for its unique native birdlife. Ngā manu a Tānemahuta have been taonga from the first moments of early Polynesian immigration. ...

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Stuffed Rat with brown fur, grey & white underside, 11–13cm long

Article

Kiore

Kiore are highly regarded in te ao Māori. These small mammals, which were once a feature of traditional Māori life, are now likely limited to habitats ...

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Otago skink sitting on a rock

Article

Ngārara – te aitanga a Punga

Ngārara is a term commonly used as a translation for reptiles. However, its traditional meaning also includes insects. Ngārara as an animal grouping is an example ...

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Dr Leilani Walker with spider on her hand

Article

Dr Leilani Walker

Dr Leilani Walker has research interests in animal behaviour and the relationships of New Zealanders with native flora and fauna. This scientist profile is one of ...

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Sculpture features a lab mouse knitting the double helix of DNA

Article

Māori concepts for animal ethics – introduction

In the Māori world, animals are related to humans through whakapapa. Animals as well as humans are descendants of ngā atua and as such are considered ...

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Small Carved wooden figure of a kurī (dog)

Article

Kurī

Kurī were purposely brought across the Pacific Ocean to Aotearoa by the voyaging ancestors of Māori – including Kupe, the famous Polynesian navigator. Their inclusion in ...

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Toroa – our giants of the skies

Article

Toroa – our giants of the skies

Of the world’s 22 species of albatross, nearly half can be found in Aotearoa. These include the wandering or snowy albatross (Diomedea exulans). Its wingspan of ...

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Manu – onamata, inamata, ānamata

Article

Manu – onamata, inamata, ānamata

He mea whakahirahira te manu ki te iwi Māori, he uri whakaheke nā Tāne Mahuta he mana nui tōna i te tirohanga mātairangi a te māori ...

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Te Kāhui o Matariki – introduction

Article

Te Kāhui o Matariki – introduction

Winter brings opportunities to view the night sky and the opportunity to incorporate authentic cross-curricular science learning. Aotearoa first celebrated Matariki as an official public holiday ...

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Whakairo

Article

Whakairo

Iwi Māori of Aotearoa did not have a written language until the 19th century, and knowledge was encoded and passed down through waiata (songs), pātere (chants), ...

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Te Tatauranga o ngā Manu Māra o Aotearoa

Article

Te Tatauranga o ngā Manu Māra o Aotearoa

E whai ana Te Tatauranga o ngā Manu Māra o Aotearoa ki te whakamanawa i te kaitiakitanga mā roto i ngā kohakoha pūtaiao kirirarau ki te ...

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