Pakiwaitara: Ranginui and Papatūānuku

3 to 5 years Enjoying books and music Identity and culture

The pakiwaitara of Ranginui and Papatūānuku can be read in different ways. It highlights that children need nurturing so they have the confidence to explore their world.

The  in Te Māhuri 1, page 24, is about te whānau tuatahi: ,  and their tamariki.

Safely held between their parents, the tamariki were treasured and lovingly cared for. The time came, however, when some of the children wanted the opportunity to explore beyond the security of their parents’ arms. 

What does this pakiwaitara tell us?

When there were no books or internet, we had to remember what we knew about our history, the world and human behaviour.  Pakiwaitara helped us do that. They can all be interpreted on many different levels, from the spiritual and metaphysical to the more mundane.

Let’s look at the messages in this story of Ranginui and Papatūānuku.

Pātai atu ki te whānau:

  • What messages do you get from the legend?
  • Have you thought about legends as ways of learning about history? The world? Human behaviour?

The celestial first family has children all with different skills and abilities. Likewise, all our children are different from each other and have different strengths and talents. 

  • Think about the different tamariki in your wider whānau. There might be peacemakers, warriors, risk-takers, active people, tricksters, musicians, gentle ones and all the other characters one might find in a legend.
  • How might their characters or personalities be portrayed in a dramatic story?

Another of the messages is that early nurturing is so important for children to feel safe and develop the confidence to want to explore and learn about the world around them. Children must be given light and freedom to grow their strengths. 

  • What messages would you like the readers of your whānau story to be reminded about?
  • What do tamariki need by way of encouragement and opportunities? How can whānau best help them?
  • How do you tell the difference between keeping children safe and keeping them so safe that they become smothered?
  • Are there stories of that could be kept alive through storytelling?

Printable storybook

The legend of Papatūānuku and Ranginui

Print this pakiwaitara in A3 or A4 and fold into a small book for whānau. Includes a colouring-in page and folding instructions.

pdf 4.5 MB
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Helpful resources for whānau

  • An older adult shows photos to a young child sitting beside them in a chair. Text reads: "Teach me about our family / Kōrero mai mō tō tatou whānau."

    Kōrero mai mō tō tātou whānau – teach me about our family

    Then I know I’m not alone, My brain learns best from the people who love and care about me.

    jpg 1.3 MB
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  • Ranginui and Papatūānuku - part one

    Ranginui and Papatūānuku - part one

    Part one of two of the story of Ranginui and Papatūānuku.

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  • Ranginui and Papatūānuku - part two

    Ranginui and Papatūānuku - part two

    Part two of two of the story of Ranginui and Papatūānuku.

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  • Rangi & Papa - Nati Award Animation from Tolaga Bay Area School

    Rangi & Papa - Nati Award Animation from Tolaga Bay Area School
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Related

Kapa haka Article Whakapapa – He kākano au Article Te reo rangatira Article Pepeha Article Keeping haututū safe Article Facilitating a group of young parents Article Playing at home Article Life and death Article Mana of tamariki Article Tuakana teina Article Karakia Article Beginners’ te reo Māori and play activities Article