Did you know? There are many examples of flightless birds around the world, including the emu, cassowary, kiwi and penguin, but the moa was unique — it had no wings. All other birds have some form of wing, even if it is a small stub of ‘evolutionary leftovers’. But the moa simply had no appendages at all where wings would normally be. The pa The extinction of the moa threatened the M̄aori people’s survival. Thankfully, they still had timber for boats, allowing many tribes to migrate when the moa vanished. This migration caused the South Island’s M̄aori population to decrease. 11.8.3 Around the fifteenth century, larger permanent settlements began to form. The M̄aori had to rely on other food sources like shellfish and aruhe , a fern root that added much-needed carbohydrates to their diet. Though hard to prepare, aruhe became a staple even when taro or sweet potatoes were available. Gardening replaced hunting as the main food source, increasing land competition and the use of slaves for hard labour. These changes marked the start of the Classical period in M̄aori history. The pa , or fortified village, emerged during this time. M̄aori lived in whare (houses) within these villages. The floors of the whare were dug out to retain heat. The whare’s construction varied by location and tradition, often featuring a framework of manuka tree branches and raupo leaves. There were many aspects to the pa , as shown in SOURCE2 .
SkillBuilder discussion Continuity and change 1. How do you think the construction of the whare (houses) within the pa helped the M̄aori people adapt to their environment? 2. What can you infer about the social and cultural structure of the M̄aori community based on the layout and features of the pa ? 3. Why do you think the pa was fortified, and how might this have impacted daily life and interactions with neighbouring tribes?
SOURCE2 A modern artist’s impression of a M̄aori pa
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A Storage pits covered by low roofs, often used for storing vegetables B Pataka — storehouses built on platforms so rats and dogs could not steal the fish, meat, berries, and other food and goods. Weapons and other valuables were also kept in the pataka. C Shelters for canoes and cooking sites D Whare runanga — the meeting house was the focus of all cultural and tribal activities. It was a sacred building filled with symbolism. The house construction represents a man’s body, with the first rafter being his extended arms stretching down to his fingers. The rafters following the arms represent the man’s rib cage. A tekoteko carving is located at the front peak of each whare runanga . The tekoteko represents a protective tribal ancestor standing watch over the marae (courtyard). The ancestor’s protective power is known as the mana. E The village water source was not usually located within the boundary of the wooden fence. Water was carried every day from the outside wells and rivers. Firewood was also collected from afar. A large area of countryside was needed to provide the tribe with food. Gardens of kumara (a type of sweet potato) were dug with long wooden sticks called ko . F Whare whakairo (carved house) — the family home of the village rangatira. A large pit filled with hot rocks was located at the centre of the whare whakairo to keep the family warm at night.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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