Investigating Place

Question 1

Creation narrative definition and common themes

Answer 1

• In maori creation narratives, although every tribe tells a different version, they have common themes such as the movement from nothing, to darkness to light, the separation of the earth and sky and the idea of gods responsible for making the natural world.

Question 2

creation narrative of mt tongariro

Answer 2

• The creation narrative of the Tongariro, Mt Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe describes how the priest Ngatoroirangi of tribe Ngati Tuwharetoa, traveled inland to explore and claim the land for his people. As he climbed to the summit of Tongariro, a strong southerly wind bought extremely cold weather. Ngatororirangi, nearly cold to death and exausted from the climb called out to help form his sister far-away in the maori homeland, Hawaiki. The came to save him in the form of fire under the earth, leaving a trail of geysers and volcanoes in their path and emerging at tongariro to warm to priest. The volcanic landscape of tongariro represents a geologic link with the homeland of Hawaiki and the mountains are esteemed as tribal ancestors.

Question 3

tongariro espistemology

Answer 3

• The name tongariro is an epistemology where tonga meaning south wind and riro meaning seized - acknowledging the cold wind that almost killed ngatoroirangi.

Question 4

turangawaewae meaning

Answer 4

• Turangawaewae is Maori compound word meaning a place to stand, where Turanga means standing place/position and wae wae means feet. Turangawaewae makes geographical reference to features of the landscape such as mountains or rivers and should be a place where you feel a connection or empowerment. Turangawaewae as a place brings certain nostalgia, memories or association with a particular place and its foundation is based on the connection of place and space.

Question 5

whakapapa meaning

Answer 5

• Whakapapa means to place layer upon layer and is usually described as genealogy. It is a taxonomical framework that outlines the way the world is created from a maori perspective. We contribute to whakapapa by placing our own experiences on to the landscape.

Question 6

how is whakapapa added to mt tongariro landscape

Answer 6

• Meaning can be added to the landscape through forms of history and natural disaster. In the context of Tongariro national park volcanic eruptions, maori settlers and colonisation layer meaning on to the landscape contributing to whakapapa.

Question 7

indigenous maori relationhip with land as reciprocal

Answer 7

• Indigenous maori see their relationship with the land as reciprocal - if the land is good and healthy then the people will be good and healthy.
• Maori have strong spiritual bonds with the land Papautanuke - the earth mother. Paptunanuku provides unity and identity to her people and sustains them.
• For these reasons maori see it as especially important to protect their land from water erosion, deforestation and inappropriate land use.
• Maori are spiritually connected to paptuanuku and this connection can be seen when a baby is born and the after birht is buried inna sacred site.
• Soil is seen as an important cultural resource for plant cultuivation such as kumura, dyes and hiding toanga in soil to presreved and hide them and soil has an important cleansing role.

Question 8

tongariro resources

Answer 8

Tongariro national park has an abundance of natural resources that are important to Maori. In the region there are over 550 natibe species of native plants and at least 80% of these are endemic to New Zealand. The sparsely vegetated areas of the rangipo desert on the eastern slopes of ruapehu contain some of the most interesting plants and plant communities. This makes the national park especially important in regards to conservation and preservation.

Question 9

history of mt tongariro

Answer 9

• Maori tribes have inhabited this land since the 14th century, when one of the first wakas - the Te Arawa with Ngati Tuwharetoa came to the area and began populating the area around Tongariro.
• Pakeha began settling in New Zealand at the end of the 18th century.
• As European settlement increased, the chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa became worried that their sacred land would become divided up and taken.
• On september 23 1887 he have the peaks of Tongariro, Ruapehu and Naguruhoe to the crown on the condition that the land become a protected area.
• Indigenous perspective on ownership of land is different to that of western perspective where the land is owned. Indigenous people care for the land together and there is communal ownership.

Question 10

quote from preist about the land

Answer 10

• This value is displayed in a quote from Sir Hepe Te Huehue the paramount chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa “these sacred mountains are to be owned by no one and yet are for everyone”.
• The gifting of the land to the crown is an example of the two perspectives of place from western and indigenous coming together to ultimately provide protection for the land. In this collaboration, Ngati Tuwharetoa can protect their culture, land, history and identity through western practices of ownership of place, for the greater good of the land.

Question 11

volcanic eruptions

Answer 11

• The multiple eruptions of the volcanoes in the region have placed whakapapa on the land. Volcanism has periodically caused the obliteration and burning of large areas of vegetation.

The taupo eruption of approximately AD 130 destroyed all forest in the northern and eastern areas of the park. This however has allowed for the regrowth in some areas of native vegetation. Human inhabitants in more recent times have also started fires in the areas, burning vegetation.

Question 12

colloboration of maori with park management

Answer 12

• Tongariro national park is at risk of being “loved to death” due to the increasing number of visitors to the are every year to participate in recreation activities such as hiking, biking, camping, skiing, tramping and mountaineering.
• Sir hep te huehue explains the purpose of protecting the land well “The matter of tapu is important. We want to see people enjoy the mountain, but we do not want it desecrated.”.
• Management of the park prohibits the extension of amenity areas, ski areas are restricted to 3% of the total area, priority has been placed on restoring hiking trails such as adding raised walkways and installing compostable toilets.
• The mountains have deep roots of history and culture and Maori want to see these values and the park integrity preserved for future generations.
• The tribes, Ngati rangi, ngati tuwharetoa and ngati tahu are also consulted on significant management issues in the park to provide their input and indigneous knowledge of the land.

Question 13

local indigenous knowledge

Answer 13

• Understanding local indigenous knowledge about nature as well as the cultural and environmental links with territory is essential not only for conservation but also for hazard mitigation and risk management.
• Maori oral history of volcanic eruptions were a source of information of both past eruption records and understanding past response and recovery of maori tribes to volcanic hazards.
• Maori oral narratives, laments, quotations, proverbs, songs and place names relate with natural hazards and serve to teach, preserve and explain their occurence.
• Maori have observed, monitored, responded to and recovered from numerous volcanic events in the last 800 years.