Resources

Te Ātiawa — Landscapes
Ages 4+

One key highlight of this app is the conversion of traditional oral histories into a modern and interactive story book that is both palatable and extremely popular to our tamariki.

Te Ātiawa Landscapes is an interactive map of pā sites within the Ngāmotu (New Plymouth) area. Interact with information, histories, waiata, and images associated with each pā.

On record, there are over 70 pā spread across the wider Ngāmotu area. This game focuses on 6 of those pā.

The intent here is to add to the current tribal repository and to support uri to reconnect with one another, and with their iwi.

The app map resources include the establishment of wānanga ā-whānau, ā-hapū, ā-marae, ā-iwi, as well as a Pōkai Whenua Hīkoi.

Te Ātiawa — Waterways
Ages 4+

Te Ātiawa Waterways is a digital a story book targeted at tamariki (children) aged years 5 to 11.

This book explains how the Taranaki township of Waitara got its name from the local Waitara river which comes from a much larger name which is ‘Te whai tara nui a Wharematangi I te kimi I tana matua I a Ngarue’.

This is the beginning of the story and as Wharematangi grows up he finds out that the only way to find his father is to follow the magic dart that Ngarue left behind. The story references locations and tīpuna, Wharematangi encountered during the search for his father.

Te Ātiawa — Tītoki
Ages 4+

The Tītoki is a tree which is commonly referenced in Māori proverbs, phrases, and salutations, although little is known about where it comes from, what it looks like, how it was used, and indeed stories or histories associated with the Tītoki.

Prior to European settlement, the Tītoki tree thrived along the banks of the Te Hēnui river in north Taranaki. Accordingly, its berries were used to anoint the skin and hair of women as a fragrance.

There are currently two trees that are cordoned off and protected by DoC that are along the Te Henui river.

This is a digital children’s book, based on tikanga and kōrero associated with the Tītoki tree. It is told from the perspective of Te Ātiawa, and is targeted at tamariki years 8 through to 12+.

Pūhaorangi
Ages 4+

Pūhaorangi is an interactive story book, based on the origins, exploits, and descendants of the legendary Te Arawa ancestor and superhero, Pūhaorangi .

This book is targeted to be easy to use, understand, and engage with for tamariki aged 8 to 11 years old.

Pūhaorangi is referenced regularly by the people of Te Arawa, one of NZ’s largest and most prominent iwi, particularly through whaikōrero, karakia, and waiata.

From whom does Pūhaorangi descend? From where or whom did he acquire his astronaut or superhuman abilities? What led Pūhaorangi to traverse the solar system?

The story writer, Raimona Inia, writes that Pūhaorangi may have existed before the time of Ranginui (the Sky Father) and Papatūānuku (the Earth Mother), and that in fact, Ranginui was indeed one of Pūhaorangi’s offspring. From his perspective, Pūhaorangi was the ‘first Māori astronaut’.

Ōrākau 300 12+
Augmented reality resource

An augmented reality app which brings the famous Ōrākau battlefield to life, whether the user is in the classroom or at home.

Ōrākau 300 reveals in detail the unfinished trench works of the pā, the zig zag formations of the British and Colonial sap system. The application is a re-enactment of the battle that will provide visual and interactive form of learning.

Popularly remembered as ‘Rewi’s Last Stand’, the battle of Ōrākau in 1864 is perhaps the best-known battle of the New Zealand Wars. South-east of Te Awamutu lies Ōrākau and here, against Rewi Maniapoto’s better judgement, the last major battle of the Waikato Wars was fought. Rewi’s pā was built in haste and unfinished when the soldiers arrived. It was defended by 300 courageous men, women and children of various tribal nations, and although incomplete, Ōrākau was deceptively strong. Heavily outnumbered and short on ammunition water and food, the brave 300 of Ōrākau repelled five assaults by determined British soldiers.

This app recognises the New Zealand Wars and the battle of Ōrākau as a vital part of New Zealand history. The story relates to all New Zealanders as it is one of the foundations on which this country was built.