As a child, I lived
with my grandparents by the Whakatane river.
My grandparents taught me how the Maori regarded and respected
the river, they said that the river was protected by the Atua
(God) and we humans had to seek God's permission through prayer
before carrying out any activity such as swimming, fishing, etc.
As a result of the Atua's influence certain qualities were placed
in the river and the Maori referred to these qualities as:
(a) Mauri or life giving principle. Each river had its
own mauri, and the mixing of water from two different sources
such as two different rivers or water that contains or has contained
human, animal, toxic or industrial waste is dangerous and could
affect the productivity of the river.
(b) Mana - spiritual power and authority originating from
the Atua. Permission to use the river had to be obtained through
prayer.
(c) Tapu - ceremonial restriction which has been placed
on some part of the river by a tohunga or priest such as:
(i) a death caused by drowning - rahui;
(ii) ceremonial purposes;
(iii) the making of fishing nets or building a canoe, etc.
Failure to respect tapu (intentionally or unintentionally) results
in trouble, sickness, or even death and the help of a tohunga
or ritual expert is required. There were certain degrees of tapu
and tapu was either temporary (in the case of a rahui) or permanent
tapu. Tapu could be uplifted through the process of whakanoa
(to make common).
My grandparents showed me places where taniwha or river
guardians lived and in most cases these places were dangerous.
Humans, especially children, were forbidden to swim or fish there.
The Maoris named rivers after events or persons, for example the
river where we lived was called Whakatane river because the river
mouth is by the Whakatane township. The naming of Whakatane occurred
when the Mataatua waka (canoe) reached that shore from
Hawaiki many centuries ago. When the waka made for shore, all
the men left the waka to explore the new land and the women remained
in the waka. In those days women were forbidden to carry out any
manual task on the waka.
Unfortunately the waka was not secured properly and it began to
drift out to sea with the outgoing tide. Wairaka, the daughter
of the chief of the canoe realised that the waka was in danger
of being swept onto some rocks, so she stood up and shouted "Kia
Whakatane au i ahau", meaning "I will carry out
the task given to man". The women grabbed the oars and rowed
the waka back to safety and since then the area has been known
as Whakatane.
My grandparents also told me that the Maori classified water into
categories each based on spiritual and geographical features.
The Maori word for water is wai and the following classification
of water is offered:
· Wai-ora: (pure water). This is water in its purest
form. It is used in rituals to purify and sanctify and has the
power to give life, sustain wellbeing and counteract evil. Waiora
also means health.
· Wai-maori: (freshwater). This is referred to as
ordinary water which runs free or unrestrained and it has no sacred
associations.
· Wai-kino: (polluted). The mauri of the water has
been altered through pollution or corruption and has the potential
to do harm to humans.
· Wai-mate: (dead water). This class of water has
lost its mauri and is dead. It is dangerous to humans because
it can cause illness or misfortune. Geographically it refers to
sluggish water, stagnant or back water. Some tribes refer to it
as waikawa.
· Wai-tai: (salt or water from the ocean). This term
also refers to rough or angry water as in surf, waves or sea tides.
· Wai-tangi: (grieving waters). Refers to a river
or part of a river which through some mishap has caused death,
much pain and grieving to the tribe.
· Wai-ariki: (hot springs or curative waters). The
term ariki means "chief" in English and they
are referred to as the chiefs or patriarchs of all waters.
There are many rivers with names that begin with the word wai
(water), for example:
· Wai-kato: (full flowing river).
· Wai-rakei: (the place where the pools were used
as mirrors).
· Wai-rarapa: (the glistening waters).
My grandparents told me that Maori regarded the river like the
human body, if it is not kept clean it will become sick and may
lose its mauri and die.
Wai has many meanings related to the idea of water as the essence
of life. Waiora, waimaori, waikino, waimate and waitai - are used
to define concepts for maintaining balance and interconnections
between all living things and processes. Used as a prefix to a
word, water means synchronised action. Wai-ata means to
sing or chant.
Wai has spiritual meaning and wai-rua means one's soul
or spirit as well as one's attitude or mood. Wai-wai means
saturated, essence, the real thing, or soaked.
Modern industrial and agricultural practices have used rivers
as a way to dispose of their wastes. This has harmed the mauri
(life essence) of the water. Maori traditional knowledge and spirituality
provides guidance on how we should view our waterways, how we
can protect and heal the waters and ourselves through the principle
of kaitiakitanga. Kaitiakitanga is caring for the whole of nature
with reverence for people and all of earth's resources as gifts
from God to be treasured and safeguarded.
Suggested Exercises
1 Find out the Maori name of a river near your school and its
meaning. You may have to ask the kaumatua (respected elders)
of the local Iwi.
2 Find out if there are places sacred to Maori on that river which
you would need to respect.
3 Is the river being polluted? If so, by whom and what and can
your school do something to stop the pollution.
4 Ask the kaumatua of the local Iwi about the cultural
significance of the river.
