Wai Māori: He Taonga / Freshwater: A Treasure

Name:

Date:

Learning focus and information

Learning intentions: I can explain why wai Māori is a taonga, describe freshwater ecosystem interactions, interpret water-quality observations, and suggest ways to practise kaitiakitanga. I can collect and use geographical data to understand places and environments.

Wai Māori means freshwater, including streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and groundwater. In te ao Māori, water is a taonga, or treasured resource, with relationships to people, place and whakapapa. Kaitiakitanga is the responsibility to care for and protect the natural world. Mauri is the life force or living essence of a person, place or thing. Healthy wai has strong mauri.

Water moves through the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection and movement across or beneath the land. Freshwater ecosystems contain living things such as plants, fish, insects, birds and microorganisms, as well as non-living factors such as light, temperature, oxygen, rocks and water flow. These parts interact. For example, pollution can reduce oxygen and harm invertebrates and fish.

Freshwater also supports hauora, or wellbeing. Clean water provides drinking water, food, recreation, learning and connections to whānau, whenua and culture. Mātauranga Māori is a valuable knowledge system that includes long-held understandings of relationships with wai. Scientific investigations and mātauranga Māori can be respectfully used together while recognising their distinct foundations.

Key curriculum connections: Te Mātaiaho Science Phase 3 – biological science and ecosystem interactions; Social Sciences – geography, places, environments, observation and data collection.

Questions

Section A: Multiple choice

1. What does wai Māori mean?

Saltwater

Freshwater

Rain only

Drinking water only

2. A taonga is best described as something that is:

Disposable

Treasured and significant

Always privately owned

Found only in cities

3. Kaitiakitanga involves:

Caring for and protecting the environment

Using as much water as possible

Removing all insects from a stream

Building only on riverbanks

4. Which process changes liquid water into water vapour?

Condensation

Evaporation

Precipitation

Collection

5. Which is a non-living part of a freshwater ecosystem?

Mayfly nymph

Algae

Water temperature

Fish

6. Many sensitive freshwater invertebrates usually indicate:

Better water quality

No oxygen

Saltwater conditions

Heavy pollution

7. Mauri refers to the:

Speed of a river

Life force or living essence

Amount of rainfall

Colour of water

8. Which action best shows kaitiakitanga?

Leaving rubbish beside a stream

Planting native plants beside a waterway

Washing paint into a drain

Taking more water than needed

9. Freshwater supports hauora because it can provide:

Only electricity

Recreation, food, water and cultural connection

Pollution

Fewer habitats

10. Which statement is most accurate?

Only one type of knowledge can help care for wai.

Mātauranga Māori and science are identical.

Different knowledge systems can contribute respectfully while retaining their distinct foundations.

Water quality cannot be investigated.

Section B: Matching and vocabulary

Match each term on the left with its meaning on the right. Write the correct letter beside each number.

1. Wai Māori ____

2. Taonga ____

3. Kaitiakitanga ____

4. Mauri ____

5. Hauora ____

6. Ecosystem ____

7. Condensation ____

8. Precipitation ____

A. Wellbeing

B. Water falling from clouds

C. Freshwater

D. A community of living and non-living parts interacting

E. The life force or living essence

F. Water vapour cooling into droplets

G. A treasured or significant thing

H. Responsibility to care for the natural world

Section C: True or false

Write True or False. If false, rewrite the statement correctly.

1. Freshwater ecosystems include both living and non-living parts.

2. Water quality has no effect on hauora.

3. Evaporation is part of the water cycle.

4. Kaitiakitanga means taking unlimited resources from nature.

5. A stream with pollution indicators may have reduced ecosystem health.

6. All freshwater invertebrates need exactly the same conditions.

Section D: Short answers

1. Explain why wai Māori can be described as a taonga.

2. Describe one interaction between a living and a non-living part of a freshwater ecosystem.

3. How could removing native plants beside a stream affect the water and its organisms?

4. Give one way that healthy wai supports hauora.

5. Suggest one fair and safe method for collecting freshwater observations.

Section E: Data interpretation

Two groups observed freshwater sites on the same day.

Site A – bush stream: clarity: clear; temperature: 14 °C; invertebrates: many mayfly and stonefly nymphs; pollution indicators: none observed.

Site B – urban drain: clarity: cloudy; temperature: 20 °C; invertebrates: few worms and midge larvae; pollution indicators: litter and an oily surface.

Which site appears healthier? Use at least two observations as evidence, and suggest one action that could protect or improve the less healthy site.

Section F: Exit reflection and answer key

1. How might wai Māori connect with your identity, whānau, local place or culture?

2. What is one personal responsibility you can take to show kaitiakitanga for wai Māori?

Answer key

Section A: 1. Freshwater; 2. Treasured and significant; 3. Caring for and protecting the environment; 4. Evaporation; 5. Water temperature; 6. Better water quality; 7. Life force or living essence; 8. Planting native plants beside a waterway; 9. Recreation, food, water and cultural connection; 10. Different knowledge systems can contribute respectfully while retaining their distinct foundations.

Section B: 1–C, 2–G, 3–H, 4–E, 5–A, 6–D, 7–F, 8–B.

Section C: 1. True. 2. False – Water quality affects hauora. 3. True. 4. False – Kaitiakitanga means responsibility to care for and protect the natural world. 5. True. 6. False – Different invertebrates have different environmental needs and pollution tolerances.

Section D suggested answers: 1. Wai Māori is treasured because it supports life, ecosystems, people, culture, whakapapa and wellbeing. 2. Example: Water temperature affects which organisms can survive. 3. More erosion, warmer water, less shelter and poorer habitat may result. 4. It provides safe water, food, recreation or cultural connection. 5. Example: Observe from a safe bank, use the same method at each site, record date, time, location and measurements, and avoid harming organisms.

Section E: Site A appears healthier. Evidence may include clear water, cooler temperature, many sensitive invertebrates and no pollution indicators. Actions for Site B could include removing litter safely, reducing pollutants entering drains, planting native vegetation, or reporting pollution.

Marking guide

Section A: 1 mark each, 10 marks. Section B: 1 mark each, 8 marks. Section C: 1 mark for the correct True/False decision and 1 mark for each accurate correction when false, 9 marks total. Section D: 2 marks each for a scientifically accurate and relevant answer, 10 marks. Section E: 4 marks – identifies Site A, gives two pieces of evidence, and suggests a suitable action. Section F: 2 marks each for thoughtful links to identity, culture, place or personal responsibility, 4 marks. Total: 45 marks.