We are learning about the importance of rivers (awa).

As part of our inquiry unit on Water (Wai), we have been looking at the importance of rivers (awa) to Maori. We have been learning how Maori view rivers as the veins, and water as the blood of Paptuanuku (the earth mother). The river is like a human body, if it is not kept clean it may become sick and may die. The river keeps the impurities away and keeps the land healthy. Healthy land is important for growing kai (food). If a river gets polluted, food gets contaminated and people get sick. Marae were often built near rivers. We have been learning about how sometimes rivers or sections of rivers are tapu if someone has drowned. This means that we should not go into the river until the tapu has been lifted. Rivers were named after events or places and we looked up local rivers and place names that contained 'wai' to work out the meaning behind them.