The Star of Streams, Rivers, and Lakes
"Ka ora te wai, ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata." (If the water is healthy, the land is healthy, the people are healthy.)
🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Sweet Waters
Waitī is the star that watches over our "sweet" waters—the fresh water that flows from the mountains to the sea. She is the guardian of the creatures that live in our rivers and lakes, such as the Tuna (eel), Kōura (freshwater crayfish), and Inanga (whitebait). Māori tradition tells us that Waitī is the elder sister of Waitā (the salt water), and the two work together to ensure the "water cycle" never stops moving.
🔍 The Pillar of Connection: The Lifeblood of the Land
Without Waitī, life on land would be impossible. Fresh water is what we drink to survive and what we use to wash and grow our crops.
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In the Classroom: Discuss the journey of a raindrop from the mountain top (Maunga) all the way down the river (Awa).
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Science Link: Explore the concept of "Water Quality." Why do we need to keep cows out of the water? Why do we plant trees on the banks of rivers? (To keep Waitī cool and clean!)
💡 The Pillar of Challenge: The "Ako" Activity
The "Water Footprint" Map:
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Draw a map of your school or home.
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Trace where the water comes in (the taps) and where it goes out (the drains). Where is the nearest stream or river that Waitī is looking after?
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The Goal: To visualize how we are personally connected to our local waterways.
