By Moana Wereta
In te ao Māori (Māori worldview), various atua personify and represent aspects of our natural and supernatural world. These atua provide insight and guidance into all aspects of our lives – including tākaro (play). As the winter months come to an end, Play Aotearoa would like to share pūrākau related to Hine Takurua (also known as the star Sirius), the personification of winter, and offer insights into how we can honour this atua through play.
During the winter months, Tama-nui-te-rā, the personification of the Sun, resides with Hine Takurua in her realm. After the winter solstice, Tama-nui-te-rā begins his journey back to dwell with Hine Raumati, the personification of summer. Hine Takurua also has a close relationship with Tangaroa, the personification of the ocean. She sits above him and cares for his children – the fish.
As we experience the power of Hine Takuruaʻs nature in this time, we can acknowledge her presence and bring greater awareness to her essence. Here are some playful activities we can do with our tamariki and rangatahi to honour her:
- Rangahau her whakapapa: search out, research, and investigate Hine Takurua’s genealogy – her children and connections to other atua.
- Tiaki the natural world she oversees: identify the natural elements you see at this time and find ways to care and nurture those elements within your whānau (home), kura (school), hapori whānui (public, wider community), and taiao (natural world, environment).
- Hononga with her environment: get outdoors and connect with Hine Takurua by observing – seeing, feeling, and hearing – the relationships of ngā atua.
- Pūrākau with your whānau: sit around Mahuika (atua of fire) and tell stories of Hine Takurua that bring her wonder alive and stoke the imagination.
- Mahi toi her essence: create and express art that shows the patterns, colours, and images you see in nature during the winter months. Bring Hine Takurua to life through your art!
- Whai rawa from your environment: be resourceful in your play. Take a bag to the beach and gather different materials. Turn these items into sculptures, art, or other useful items to honour the winter months of Hine Takurua while also caring for the whenua (land).
- Kākano in the mahi māra (garden): Hine Takurua is a nurturer of seeds in preparation for the stirring of life within. Prepare garden beds and seeds that will thrive by being planted in this time of the year.
- Pito-mata potential: Hine Takurua can support the thriving of figurative seeds as well! This is a great time to nurture the seed of ideas and projects for the future.
Follow Tama-nui-te-rā as he leaves the house of Hine Takurua (winter) and makes his way to Hine Raumati (summer). Spend time celebrating and honouring Hine Takurua through play and all she has provided us in the winter months by observing the changes in the seasons, sharing her stories, creating tributes to her elemental forces, and planting the literal and figurative seeds for the coming months.
As man disappears from sight, the land remains.
Resources:
- Museum of New Zealand/Te Papa Tongarewa: Ko te whānau o Matariki: Matariki Education Resource 2015 – Part 3
- The Spinoff: Tamanuiterā: The sun and his two wives
- Te Reka O Te Kai: Maara Kai Practical Guide
Play Talk
National Grandparents Week Kōrero
By Moana Wereta and Jessica Worchel In acknowledgement of Grandparent’s week (27 October to 1 November 2022), Play Aotearoa would like to share pūrākau (story) and whakataukī (proverbs) that demonstrate the powerful connection between mokopuna (grandchildren) and tūpuna as it relates to te ao Māori (Māori worldview) (1).
Kua Timata te Kōanga – A Story of Whitebait
Jj woke from the loudness of the day. The manu (birds) were singing their waiata (songs), and the rays of Tama-nui-te-rā were shining bright through the window.
Haere Mai Kōanga!
As Tama-nui-te-Rā (personification of the sun) moves away from the whare (house) of Hine Takurua (personification of winter) and closer to Hine Raumati (personification of summer), we move into kōanga (spring).
Te Karanga a Kui (Kui’s Call)
The two kunekune pigs, Pedro and Piggles, were stranded. Their whare (home) was slowly being surrounded by a lake that was emerging with the weeks of heavy rain that had been battering Aotearoa.
