The village People gathered in the open courtyard, called the marae, in front of the formal meeting houses, known as the wharenui , for community meetings. The marae was the spiritual centre of the village where celebrations were held, the dead were mourned, guests were greeted, and important matters were discussed. The traditional M̄aori pa (village) was often built on ridges and easily defended locations. Rivers and lakes provided natural barriers against enemy attacks. Defenses included trenches, earth ramparts and palisades made from large sharpened stakes lashed together. The M̄aori were very successful farmers. Agriculture led to the construction of larger and more permanent village settlements. Village life was organised around food gathering, food growing and warfare. 11.6.6 Trade Despite constant warfare, a network of trade developed between M̄aori tribes. Trade was important because food sources and natural resources were not evenly spread across the islands. Greenstone, called pounamu, was a type of jade found only in three small regions of the South Island. South Island tribes mined pounamu and shipped it by canoe to North Island coastal villages. Pounamu was the most valuable trade item, desired for its beauty and hardness. It was used to make weapons and ornaments. The South Island was named Te Wai Pounamu, meaning ‘place of the pounamu’. According to M̄aori belief, pounamu came from the earth and was under the guardianship of the god Poutini. 11.6 SkillBuilder activity HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE M̄aori culture has a strong presence in New Zealand today. In comparison, and although there are steps being taken, to recognise the impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples on modern culture and of European settlement on their way of life, there is still a long way to go. 1. Explain why you think New Zealand has been more effective in integrating M̄aori customs and culture into modern life. 2. Propose the steps Australia could take to recognise and integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage more fully. Steps such as acknowledgement of country and official recognitions are excellent, but are very ceremonial. Consider what could be done more broadly in everyday life.
11.6
Exercise
Learning pathways LEVEL1 1, 2, 3
LEVEL2
LEVEL3
4, 5, 6, 8
7, 9, 10
REMEMBER AND UNDERSTAND 1. Identify what natural phenomena assisted the early navigators of the Pacific Ocean. Select all that apply. A. Knowledge of the constellations B. The behaviour of fish and whales C. Flight or migration patterns of birds D. The weather E. Sea currents and wave patterns 2. State whether the following sentence is True or False. The third period of M̄aori history is called ‘the flowering’. 3. State why it is considered unlikely that the first voyages to New Zealand were accidental.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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