Ngārarahuarau
An overview
The book
The book is written by Keri Tākao and recounts the story of Ngārarahuarau, the tipua of Wainui. He lives in a cave on the beach and snatches unsuspecting humans as they pass by. The story tells of his undoing by a woman called Rūru and his legacy in the landscape. Robin Slow painted the illustrations, which are rich in symbolism and visual language.
The videos
The videos support the kōrero. Ngārarahuarau is a simple, animated retelling of the story using the text and illustrations from the book. Tohuwhenua combines narrative and imagery in a journey through the landscape left in Ngārarahuarau’s wake. Kōkōwai follows the stone from its origins in the landscape to its processing into paint.
Māori History
The resource has been designed for use in junior classrooms to support the teaching and learning of Māori History. No doubt it will have wider appeal.
The resource offers opportunities to:
- make connections with iwi and the landscape
- explore how Māori make sense of the natural world
- create connections with local iwi
- learn about technology Māori used to make resources and tools
- learn vocabulary specific to Mohua and its landscape
- investigate stories of taniwha in your own rohe
- investigate local landforms and their whakapapa
- appreciate Māori art and symbolism.
- create links to other learning areas Science and Social Sciences.
Links to the learning areas
Science
Planet Earth and Beyond – level 2
Earth systems
Students will explore and describe natural features and resources.
Interacting systems
Students will describe how natural features are changed and resources affected by natural events and human actions
Planet Earth and Beyond – level 3
Earth systems
Students will appreciate that water, air, rocks and soil, and life forms make up our planet and recognise that these are also Earth’s resources.
Interacting systems
Students will investigate the water cycle and its effect on climate, landforms, and life.
Social Sciences
Level 2
Students will gain knowledge, skills, and experience to:
- Understand how cultural practices reflect and express people’s customs, traditions, and values.
- Understand how places influence people and people influence places.
Level 3
Students will gain knowledge, skills and experience to:
- Understand how people view and use places differently.
- Understand how people remember and record the past in different ways.
Down the Back of the Chair
Further copies of this title are available from Down the Back of the Chair, quoting this item numbers – 712053
Free phone: 0800 660 662
Fax: 0800 660 663
Email: [email protected]
