Taonga
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
