📖 Worksheet 1: The Story of Mauao
Mauao (Mount Maunganui) is a sacred maunga with a powerful story of longing, belonging, and transformation. Read the four passages below, then complete the activities.
🔀 Part A: Order the Story
Read each passage carefully. Write the correct story order in the box: Beginning, Problem, Resolution, or Ending.
Passage 1: "The maunga was dragged by the heke (migration) of fish through the sea, but as dawn broke, the rays of the sun struck him and he was fixed in place — forever standing at the edge of the ocean, belonging to the people of Tauranga Moana."
This passage is the: _______________________
Passage 2: "There was once a maunga who had no name and no people to call his own. He stood alone, watching the other mountains who were loved and celebrated by their iwi. His heart was heavy with loneliness."
This passage is the: _______________________
Passage 3: "The unnamed maunga fell deeply in love with Pūwhenua, a beautiful maunga who belonged to another. Heartbroken and desperate, he asked the patupaiarehe (fairy people) to help him escape his loneliness and find a place where he could be loved."
This passage is the: _______________________
Passage 4: "Today, Mauao stands proudly at the entrance of Tauranga Harbour. He is tapu and treasured — a place of spiritual significance for Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, and Ngāti Pūkenga. His name means 'caught by the dawn.'"
This passage is the: _______________________
✏️ Part B: Comprehension Questions
1. What does the name "Mauao" mean?
2. Why did the maunga feel lonely at the beginning of the story?
3. What is the main theme (big idea) of the Mauao story? Circle your answer.
The importance of being the tallest mountain
Finding belonging and identity
How fish travel through the ocean
The power of the patupaiarehe
🎨 Part C: Comic Strip — Draw a Scene from Mauao
Choose one moment from the Mauao story and draw it in the comic strip panel below. Add a caption (speech bubble or narration) to explain what is happening.
Caption / Narration for your scene:
📖 Worksheet 2: The Story of Taurikura
Taurikura is a place name in Tauranga Moana with a story connected to the sea, resources, and the relationship between people and their environment. Read the four passages below, then complete the activities.
🔀 Part A: Order the Story
Read each passage carefully. Write the correct story order in the box: Beginning, Problem, Resolution, or Ending.
Passage 1: "The people of the bay lived in harmony with the sea. They fished, gathered kaimoana, and gave thanks to Tangaroa, the atua of the ocean. The bay was abundant and life was good for the hapū who called this place home."
This passage is the: _______________________
Passage 2: "The tohunga called upon the people to observe rāhui — a period of restriction — over the bay. No fishing or gathering was permitted. Some people were frustrated, but they trusted the wisdom of their elders and waited."
This passage is the: _______________________
Passage 3: "Seasons passed, and the rāhui was lifted. The people returned to the bay and found it teeming with life once more. The kaimoana had returned in great numbers, and the people celebrated with a hākari (feast), giving thanks to Tangaroa."
This passage is the: _______________________
Passage 4: "Over time, the people noticed the kaimoana was becoming scarce. The fish were fewer, the shellfish harder to find. The elders grew concerned — the balance between people and the sea had been disturbed."
This passage is the: _______________________
✏️ Part B: Comprehension Questions
1. What is a rāhui, and why was it placed on the bay?
2. How does the Taurikura story connect to kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the environment)?
3. Which values does this story teach? Tick ALL that apply.
Respecting the natural world
Taking as many resources as possible
Listening to the wisdom of elders
Patience and trust in the community
Competing with other hapū
🎨 Part C: Comic Strip — Draw a Scene from Taurikura
Choose one moment from the Taurikura story and draw it in the comic strip panel below. Add a caption to explain what is happening in your scene.
Caption / Narration for your scene:
📖 Worksheet 3: The Story of PoriPori
PoriPori is a story from Tauranga Moana connected to the land, identity, and the bonds between people and place. Read the four passages below, then complete the activities.
🔀 Part A: Order the Story
Read each passage carefully. Write the correct story order in the box: Beginning, Problem, Resolution, or Ending.
Passage 1: "PoriPori was a young person who had grown up away from their ancestral lands. Returning home for the first time, they felt like a stranger — unsure of the stories, the names of the hills, or the songs that connected their whānau to this place."
This passage is the: _______________________
Passage 2: "An elder took PoriPori to the top of a hill overlooking the bay. She began to recite the whakapapa of the land — the names of the rivers, the mountains, and the ancestors who had walked there. PoriPori listened and began to feel something stir inside."
This passage is the: _______________________
Passage 3: "PoriPori stood at the prow of the waka and called out the karakia to open the journey home. Their voice was steady and strong. The whānau cheered — PoriPori had found their place among their people and their land."
This passage is the: _______________________
Passage 4: "As the days passed, PoriPori struggled. They could not join in the waiata or share in the stories. They felt disconnected and wondered if they truly belonged here at all. The longing to understand their identity grew stronger each day."
This passage is the: _______________________
✏️ Part B: Comprehension Questions
1. Why did PoriPori feel like a stranger when they returned home?
2. How did the elder help PoriPori reconnect with their identity?
3. The PoriPori story is most similar to which theme? Circle your answer.
A battle between two tribes
A journey to discover one's identity and belonging
A story about the creation of the stars
A competition between two rangatira
4. Think about all three stories (Mauao, Taurikura, PoriPori). What is one idea that connects all three? Write your answer below.
🎨 Part C: Comic Strip — Draw a Scene from PoriPori
Choose one moment from the PoriPori story and draw it in the comic strip panel below. Add a caption to explain what is happening in your scene.
Caption / Narration for your scene:
