Examine Te Ao Maori in Ece
The purpose of this essay is to examine Te Reo Māori, Tikanga Māori, the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti ō Waitangi and how early childhood educators can support the inclusion of Te Ao Māori and Māori cultural knowledge within the early childhood setting.
Te ao Māori can be defined as how Māori view the world. It encompasses the Māori cultures beliefs of the universe, how they came into existence, the Gods, Te Reo, Tikanga, Marae and access to whānau, hapū and iwi (Durie, 2005).
The Māori Creation myth is the foundation of the Māori world view. It begins with Te Kore – The Nothingness, which evolves into Ahorangi and Ihorangi the female and male potentiality. These potentialities combined and Ranginui, the Sky Father and Papa-tū-ā-nuku, the Earth Mother were created. (Hyland, 2003). Through the birth of their children Te Pō – The Darkness begins. The children of Papa and Rangi were numerous and lived in the darkness between their parents. The children decided to separate them so they could stand and grow. They took turns in trying to separate them, but it was Tāne-mahuta who succeeded in fixing the sky above and the earth below, thus allowing Te Ao Mārama, the world of light to begin (Hyland, 2003).
The creation myth is relevant to New Zealand early childhood education as this story effectively tells the story of all the children we teach, who are the creation of life. The myth is also the foundation of Whakapapa, which is how a Māori individual identifies their genealogy of his whanau, hapū (sub-tribe) or iwi (tribe), in relation to the Gods, the world and their ancestors (Matiu & Mutu. 2003).
Māori myths and legends are valuable to early childhood education as they help children to learn and have an understanding of Te Ao Māori. The values and virtues expressed in the myths and legends are associated with the processes and beliefs of the Māori culture (Patterson, 2000).
The Family and Community and Relationship principles of Te Whāriki support
Te ao Māori can be defined as how Māori view the world. It encompasses the Māori cultures beliefs of the universe, how they came into existence, the Gods, Te Reo, Tikanga, Marae and access to whānau, hapū and iwi (Durie, 2005).
The Māori Creation myth is the foundation of the Māori world view. It begins with Te Kore – The Nothingness, which evolves into Ahorangi and Ihorangi the female and male potentiality. These potentialities combined and Ranginui, the Sky Father and Papa-tū-ā-nuku, the Earth Mother were created. (Hyland, 2003). Through the birth of their children Te Pō – The Darkness begins. The children of Papa and Rangi were numerous and lived in the darkness between their parents. The children decided to separate them so they could stand and grow. They took turns in trying to separate them, but it was Tāne-mahuta who succeeded in fixing the sky above and the earth below, thus allowing Te Ao Mārama, the world of light to begin (Hyland, 2003).
The creation myth is relevant to New Zealand early childhood education as this story effectively tells the story of all the children we teach, who are the creation of life. The myth is also the foundation of Whakapapa, which is how a Māori individual identifies their genealogy of his whanau, hapū (sub-tribe) or iwi (tribe), in relation to the Gods, the world and their ancestors (Matiu & Mutu. 2003).
Māori myths and legends are valuable to early childhood education as they help children to learn and have an understanding of Te Ao Māori. The values and virtues expressed in the myths and legends are associated with the processes and beliefs of the Māori culture (Patterson, 2000).
The Family and Community and Relationship principles of Te Whāriki support