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Whakapapa and Identity

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Whakapapa and Identity

Read the short story, then explore how whakapapa connects people, places and identity. You may keep personal or whānau information private: use the fictional example or write about a connection you choose.

A story at the market

At the Saturday farmers’ market, Ngaio helps her koro arrange kūmara at the stall. He tells her that his own koro taught him how to choose and store kūmara. Ngaio’s aunt Mere joins them and shares the name of the awa near the place where their whānau has gathered for generations. Ngaio listens, asks questions and learns that her story is connected to people, places and knowledge passed on over time. She understands that whakapapa can include relationships among people, the natural world and the stories that give meaning to those connections. Whakapapa is personal and can be shared in different ways; nobody has to reveal private details.

1.In the story, what knowledge did Ngaio’s koro learn from his own koro and then share with Ngaio?

2.Which description best explains whakapapa as it is used in the story?

A list of market prices
Connections among people, places, the natural world and knowledge across generations
A recipe for cooking kūmara
A story that must be shared publicly

3.Match each kupu to its meaning.

whānau
tūpuna
iwi
awa

a people connected through shared ancestry and identity
extended family
ancestors
river

4.True or false: Ngaio’s story shows that whakapapa can connect people with places and knowledge, as well as with relatives.

5.Complete the sentence: In the story, Ngaio learns about her whānau by listening to and asking .

6.Ngaio hears about an awa connected to her whānau. Give one respectful question she could ask to learn more about the relationship with that place.

7.Choose one connection described in the story—between generations, a place, or shared knowledge. Explain how it helps Ngaio understand her identity.

8.You do not have to share private whakapapa details. Write one safe way to explore identity—for example, asking a trusted person about a family tradition, learning about a place, or choosing a fictional character. What could you learn?

9.Mere tells Ngaio a story about a place that matters to their whānau. What is one way Ngaio can show respect while listening to someone else’s whakapapa or story?

10.Write one sentence explaining why whakapapa can be important to a person’s sense of identity. You may use this frame: “Whakapapa can help someone understand…”