Kaitiakatanga-Guardians

Guardians

Traditionally maori believe there is a deep kinship between humans and the natural world this connection is expressed through Kaitiakitanga- a way of managing the environment. Today there is growing interest in kaitiakitanga as tribes restore their environment and their culture.

Understanding

Kaitiakitanga

Kaitiakitanga means guardianship and protection it is a way of managing the environment based on the maori world view. A Kaitiaki is a guardian. This can be a person or group that cares for an area such as lake or forest. They are given that role by the local tribe.

Maori world

View

In the maori world view, people are closely connected to the land and nature. Kaitiakitanga is based on the idea of humans as part of the natural world.

Traditional

Practices

In the past, people followed traditional practices when they were hunting, fishing, growing or finding food. These helped them to care for the environment.

Meanings

(mana, Tapu and mauri)

Mana means spiritual power. If a forest has mana it will have plenty of flowers, fruit and birds.

Tapu can mean spiritual restriction. Sometimes rahui(restrictions) are needed to help the mana of the forest. A rahui might stop people taking birds, fish or fruit from the area, or at a certain time.

Mauri means life force. This must be protected in forests, rivers, gardens, lakes and the sea. Special mauri stones which tohunga(priests) said prayers over, were used to preserve this force.

Kaitiakitanga today

Today there is a growing interest in kaitiakitanga.tribes are restoring their environment and culture, and using traditional ideas in the modern world.

Kaitiakitanga has also been included in some laws, such as the resource management act 1991.

Connected to

Nature

In maori culture, humans are seen as deeply connected to the world. Kaitiakitanga grows out of this connection and expresses a modern context.

Tangata

Whenua

tangata whenua-people of the land-are a group of people who have authority in a particular place, because of their ancestors relationship to it. Humans and their land are seen as one, and people are not superior to nature. The natural world is able to ‘speak’ to the humans and give them knowledge and understanding. Human life is about aligning oneself with the natural world.