Taonga are special gifts that link people. Children themselves are taonga.

Gifting a taonga links people with each other. Together with the whānau, read the first paragraph under ‘Gifting of taonga’ in the Whakatipu booklet Te Pihinga 3 (page 7).

Ask the whānau:

  • What does taonga mean to you?
  • Do you have whānau taonga?
  • Has pēpi received any gifts you consider are taonga?
  • What makes the gift special?
  • Who has given them the taonga?
  • What do you think it will mean for pēpi in the future?
  • How can you make sure it’s kept safe and special?

Read the rest of the ‘Gifting of taonga’ section (pages 7 and 8). The last sentence says ‘Maybe this is a time to get pēpi [their] own taonga or show [them] a whānau pounamu that the whole whānau use.’

  • Is this something you might think about?
  • What sort of taonga would you consider?
  • Perhaps there’s someone in the wider whānau that you could talk to about this?

Remember this whakataukī:

He taonga te tamaiti.
A child is a precious treasure.

This refers to the child being the taonga or treasure. It’s not unusual for whānau to think of their tamaiti as a taonga. Our future depends on today’s children. They are precious. If they’re not nurtured and looked after now, there is little hope for the future of the human race.

  • Have you heard this whakataukī before?
  • What does it mean to you?

How does this relate to Tākai resources?

Kōrerotia mai mō taku whakahirahira – tell me I’m wonderful – Baby wall frieze

Te aroha me te mahana – love and warmth – Six things children need