Māori Journey to Te Wai Pounamu

The Amazing Voyage to the South Island A Story of Brave Navigators

What is Te Wai Pounamu?

Te Wai Pounamu means 'The Waters of Greenstone' It's the Māori name for New Zealand's South Island Famous for beautiful green pounamu (greenstone) Home to many Māori iwi (tribes)

The Great Polynesian Navigators

Māori ancestors came from Polynesia over 700 years ago They were amazing sailors and navigators Used stars, ocean currents, and birds to find their way No GPS or maps - just incredible knowledge!

Navigation Tools and Techniques

The Amazing Waka

Waka were large sailing canoes Made from carved trees with beautiful designs Could carry whole families and their belongings Strong enough for long ocean journeys

Navigation Challenge

Imagine you're a young Māori navigator Look at the classroom ceiling - what 'stars' can you see? Point to where you think north might be How would you know if land was nearby?

The Legend of Aoraki

Aoraki and his brothers were sons of the Sky Father Their waka was wrecked on a reef They climbed onto the hull and turned to stone Aoraki became the highest mountain (Mount Cook) Their waka became Te Wai Pounamu

Moeraki : Places of Landing

{"left":"Moeraki Boulders are said to be kumara and calabashes from waka\nRound stones scattered along the beach\n","right":"Safe harbors for tired travelers\nStill sacred places today\nVisitors can see these amazing sites"}

Think About This...

How do you think the Māori felt when they first saw Te Wai Pounamu? What would be the hardest part of navigating by stars? Why do you think these legends are still important today?

Our Learning Journey

Māori were incredible ocean navigators They used stars, waves, and nature to find their way Te Wai Pounamu became their new home Legends help us understand their connection to the land We can still visit places from these amazing stories