Monday, June 15, 2015

Homework Week 9

                           Matariki


This week's homework is about that very special time of the year for Aotearoa...Matariki.


All New Zealanders need to know what Matariki is, and why it holds so much importance for Maori people. This week, choose at least THREE activities to complete to improve your understanding of the 'reason for the season'!

Here are some activities taken from the www.nzhistory.net website.

Matariki: The Maori New Year

Refer to the material on Matariki available from Te Ara to help you complete these activities.
  1. In Maori what does Matariki mean?
  2. What are some of the explanations given for the origins of the cluster of stars associated with the Maori New Year?
  3. In traditional times what did Maori acknowledge with the arrival of Matariki?
  4. How did Matariki affect Maori farming?
  5. What role do kites (pakau) play in Maori celebrations of Matariki?
  6. Make a kite, decorated in the traditional way.

Matariki and your community

Many communities run festivals and events to celebrate Matariki. Find out what’s happening in your community. Local newspapers, information centres and libraries are good places to start.
Make a list of what is happening in YOUR area.

Storyboarding Matariki

There are a number of Maori legends associated with Matariki. Present one of these legends as an illustrated story. 
You can present this in Google Draw or Google Slides. Get creative!

3 comments:

  1. In Maori Matariki Means Pleiades.
    What are some of the explanations given for the origins of the cluster of stars associated with the Maori New Year?
    It rises in mid-winter – late May or early June. For many Māori, it heralds the start of a new year.
    In traditional times what did Maori acknowledge with the arrival of Matariki?
    The tradition, Matariki has two meanings – 'Mata riki' - tiny eyes, and it is also sometimes called 'Mata ariki' – the eyes of god.
    How did Matariki affect Maori farming?
    it predicted the outcome of the next season’s crops. The brighter the stars the better the crops would turn out.
    What role do kites (pakau) play in Maori celebrations of Matariki?
    Ancient Māori kite flying traditions have a highly symbolic connection to Matariki – the two were historically inseparable. Kites were seen as connectors between the heavens and earth.
    Make a kite, decorated in the traditional way.
    Kites are a classic childhood toy that many of us have fond memories with. However, they can be quite pricey if you buy them from a store

    ReplyDelete
  2. Did you know that most maori's believe when flying a kite it connects the earth with the heavens.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Did you know that most maori's believe when flying a kite it connects the earth and the heavens.

    ReplyDelete