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Aotearoa's Geography and History
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Aotearoa's Geography and History
🗺️ Part 1: Identifying Aotearoa's Geographical Features
1. Circle the geographical features that are found in Aotearoa New Zealand:
Southern Alps
Sahara Desert
Waikato River
Amazon Rainforest
Fiordland
Rotorua geothermal region
2. Which mountain range runs down the South Island of Aotearoa?
The Himalayas
The Southern Alps (Kā Tiritiri o te Moana)
The Rocky Mountains
The Andes
3. What is the longest river in Aotearoa?
🌿 Part 2: Māori and Environmental Connections
4. Fill in the blanks about Māori concepts:
The Māori concept of _________________ means guardianship or stewardship of the environment. Māori are the _________________ _________________ (people of the land) of Aotearoa.
5. Match the Māori place names with their English meanings:
1. Aotearoa
2. Te Wai Pounamu
3. Rotorua
A. The Greenstone Waters
B. Land of the Long White Cloud
C. Second Lake
6. How did Māori traditionally use rivers and forests? Give two examples:
🏘️ Part 3: European Settlement and Environmental Impact
7. When European settlers (Pākehā) arrived in Aotearoa, how did they use the environment differently from Māori?
They cleared forests for farming
They built cities and towns
They introduced new animals like sheep and cattle
They practiced kaitiakitanga
They used timber for building houses and ships
8. Why did early European settlers choose to build settlements near rivers and harbours?
9. True or False: The geographical features of Aotearoa influenced where both Māori and Pākehā chose to live.
True
False
🎨 Part 4: Environmental Stewardship and Reflection
10. Draw one important geographical feature of Aotearoa and label it with both its English and Māori name (if you know it):
11. How do you think the mountains, rivers, and forests of Aotearoa have shaped our country's identity? Write a short paragraph:
12. What is one way you can practice kaitiakitanga (environmental guardianship) in your daily life?
13. Complete this sentence: "The environment of Aotearoa is important because..."
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