{"id":7555,"date":"2020-09-18T09:26:10","date_gmt":"2020-09-18T09:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/?p=7555"},"modified":"2020-09-18T09:29:38","modified_gmt":"2020-09-18T09:29:38","slug":"lights-will-guide-you-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/lights-will-guide-you-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Lights Will Guide You Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2120\" height=\"1414\" src=\"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/GettyImages-1197398810.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/GettyImages-1197398810.jpg 2120w, https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/GettyImages-1197398810-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/GettyImages-1197398810-700x467.jpg 700w, https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/GettyImages-1197398810-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/GettyImages-1197398810-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/GettyImages-1197398810-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/GettyImages-1197398810-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2120px) 100vw, 2120px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Find out how a simple plant, once used to guide M\u0101ori hunters home after nightfall, is now a much-loved symbol of New Zealand. The history of the Silver Fern is just one of the fascinating facts about the M\u0101ori language and culture that we\u2019re celebrating as part of \u2018Te Wiki o te Reo M\u0101ori\u2019, which literally translates to \u2018the week of the language M\u0101ori\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 2em 1em 2em 1em;\">\n<h2>Contents<\/h2>\n<ul><li><a href=\"#ponga\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Ponga (Silver Fern)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#waka\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Waka (Canoe)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#aotearoa\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Aotearoa (New Zealand)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#island\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Te Ika-a-M\u0101ui and Te Wai Pounamu (North and South Islands)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#whakairo\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Whakairo (Carving)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#tiki\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Tiki (carving) Hei-tiki (Pendant Carving)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#moko\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Moko (Tattoo)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#whatu\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Whatu (Twining)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#kiwi\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Kiwi (Bird)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#p\u0101ua\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">P\u0101ua (Shell and Mollusc)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#kea\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Kea (Parrot)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#tuatara\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Tuatara (Reptile)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#pohutukawa\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Pohutukawa (New Zealand Christmas Trees)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#h\u0101ngi\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">H\u0101ngi (Pit Oven)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#ruapehu\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Ruapehu (Volcano)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#rakiura\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Rakiura (Island)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#kapa\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Kapa Haka (Performing Arts)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#koru\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Koru (Loop or Coil)<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"#final\"><p style=\"font-size: 125%;\">Final Thoughts<\/p><\/a><\/li>\n\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"ponga\"><strong>Ponga (Silver Fern)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Ponga is the M\u0101ori name for the Silver Tree Fern (Cyathea dealbata) which is native to New Zealand.&nbsp;The silver fern is so named because it has green fronds with a silver underside. When Maori hunters and warriors were roaming far and wide after nightfall, they would typically break off some of these fronds and leave them silver side up on bush pathways so that the moonlight would reflect off them and light their way home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The plant has been worn as an emblem on the country\u2019s national rugby team shirts since the 1880s and there\u2019s even speculation that the colour of the famous \u2018All Blacks\u2019 kit was chosen to complement the colour of the silver fern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018Silver Ferns\u2019 is also the name of the country\u2019s national netball team and the fern symbol is used by many of New Zealand\u2019s national football, rugby, cricket, hockey and basketball teams as well as the country\u2019s armed forces.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poignantly, all Commonwealth war graves of fallen New Zealand soldiers have the silver fern engraved on their tombstones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fern symbol is also used on countless commercial, political and not-for-profit ventures.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All this for a plant, which according to M\u0101ori legend, was asked to leave its home in the sea to come and live on the land to help the M\u0101ori people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"waka\"><strong>Waka (Canoe)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Waka is the M\u0101ori name for canoe (although nowadays it can be used as a generic name for forms of transport). The M\u0101ori people are believed to be descendants of East Polynesians who emigrated to New Zealand hundreds of years ago in several waves of waka (canoe voyages). Historians believe these early settlers would also have used a specific sort of canoe for their journey known as a \u2018waka hourua\u2019 or double hulled canoe.&nbsp;Looking a bit like two canoes held together by platform, \u2018waka hourua\u2019 would give more stability in rough seas than a single canoe and were powered by sails.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other examples of M\u0101ori canoes include the \u2018waka ama\u2019 (an outrigger canoe), which is a canoe with floats attached to the hull on either one or both sides for extra stability and power in rough seas.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And there is a \u2018waka taua\u2019 or war canoe, such as the one in the Auckland War Museum which dates from the 1800s, is 25 metres long and carried up to 100 people. Traditionally the waka taua were highly sacred (\u2018tapu\u2019). No cooked food was allowed in the vessel and the waka had to be entered over the sides (gunwales) not the bow or the stern which were highly decorated with powerful symbols. Historically, battles between waka are thought to have taken place by one boat ramming another in a bid to capsize it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"aotearoa\"><strong>Aotearoa (New Zealand)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the collective M\u0101ori name for New Zealand (both North and South Islands). The most popular translation of this word is \u2018long white cloud\u2019 which experts believe is named after the cloud formations that early Polynesian navigators used to find the country.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"island\"><strong>Te Ika-a-M\u0101ui and Te Wai Pounamu (North and South Islands)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The demi-god M\u0101ui is a key figure in Polynesian mythology and stories are told about him in Hawaii, Tahiti and New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to a M\u0101ori myth, M\u0101ui and his brothers had gone fishing in their canoe and caught a great fish which M\u0101ui\u2019s brothers then fought over. This fish became the North Island or \u2018the fish of M\u0101ui\u2019 \u2013 \u2018Te Ika-a-M\u0101ui\u2019 \u2013 while its hills and valleys are said to be caused by the brothers\u2019 fighting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In contrast, the M\u0101ori name for South Island is the more peaceful \u2018Te Wai Pounamu\u2019, meaning \u2018the waters of greenstone\u2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;Greenstone (pounamu) is the name given to several types of hard green stone found in the South Island which are highly valued by the M\u0101ori and often made into carvings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"whakairo\"><strong>Whakairo (Carving)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Whakairo&nbsp;(carving) or toi whakairo (art carving) is a&nbsp;traditional M\u0101ori skill and carved materials can include wood, stone or bone. Decorations of whakairo are often found on M\u0101ori houses, fences, containers and tools.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"tiki\"><strong>Tiki (Carving) Hei-tiki (Pendant Carving)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The word \u2018tiki\u2019 is found in many countries throughout Polynesia and generally refers to a carving of a man. In M\u0101ori culture, \u2018Tiki\u2019 refers to the first man who, according to different legends, either came from the stars and was created by Tane, the god of forests and birds, or was created by T\u016bmatauenga, the god of war.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A&nbsp;tiki&nbsp;is typically made from wood or stone and a \u2018hei-tiki\u2019 is a carving worn round the neck. Traditionally the M\u0101ori \u2018hei-tiki\u2019 shows a man with large round eyes in an aggressive stance with his hands on his thighs and with webbed feet. Hei-tiki can be worn for protection, to bring good luck or to represent one\u2019s ancestors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people also believe the hei-tiki can be worn to bring fertility because it can represent the goddess of childbirth, Hineteiwaiwa. According to M\u0101ori mythology, the first hei-tiki ever made was given to Hineteiwaiwa by her father.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"moko\"><strong>Moko (Tattoo)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The practice of tattooing is thought to originate in Polynesia and the word \u2018tattoo&#8217; comes from the Polynesian word \u2018tatau\u2019. Moko&nbsp;is the name given for a form of M\u0101ori&nbsp;tattoo and art form which was particularly popular before Europeans settled in New Zealand. Historically most high ranking M\u0101uri people would receive moko which was seen as an important milestone between childhood and adulthood. The designs chosen could signify particular M\u0101uri tribes, their social standing or life journey. Generally, men received moko on their faces, buttocks and thighs and women on their lips and chins. In the past the practice of \u2018t\u0101 moko\u2019 (to apply moko) was done by carving grooves into the skin with chisels \u2018uhi\u2019 made from albatross bone before inserting dye. But t\u0101 moku today is done with tattoo needles.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"whatu\"><strong>Whatu (Twining)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The main&nbsp;technique of M\u0101ori weaving or twining is called whatu.&nbsp;In&nbsp;whatu, there are two groups of threads \u2013 the aho (weft, or horizontal threads) and the whenu (warp, or vertical threads).&nbsp;M\u0101ori developed many innovative styles such as the weaving of geometric patterns, called t\u0101niko. They were also skilled in whiri (braiding) and raranga (plaiting).<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"kiwi\"><strong>Kiwi (Bird)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The kiwi bird, which takes its name directly from the M\u0101ori word \u2018kiwi\u2019, is a flightless, long-legged bird native to New Zealand which is about the size of chicken. It is held in high esteem by the M\u0101ori and its skin was traditionally used to make feather cloaks for M\u0101ori chiefs. From the late 1800s onwards pictures of kiwis started to appear on badges worn by the New Zealand armed forces. The bird then became so associated with the country, that by 1917 New Zealanders began to be nicknamed \u2018Kiwis\u2019, a name which has stuck. In fact, the name kiwi proved so popular that the Chinese gooseberry was renamed kiwifruit by people in New Zealand in 1950 in homage to the national bird. The fruit has since become a marketing success story.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"p\u0101ua\"><strong>P\u0101ua (Type of Shell and Mollusc)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>P\u0101ua is&nbsp;the M\u0101ori name given to three species of edible sea snails native to the waters around New Zealand. The molluscs are valued for their meat and their beautiful shells which are widely used in both M\u0101ori and New Zealand jewellery and decorations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In M\u0101ori mythology, the P\u0101ua was originally created without a shell and the god of the sea, Tangaroa, created one for it using some of the most beautiful colours he could find. The story goes that he used \u2018the coolest blues of the ocean\u2019, \u2018the freshest greens of the forest\u2019, \u2018a tinge of violet from the dawn\u2019, \u2018a blush of pink from the sunset\u2019 and \u2018a shimmer of mother of pearl\u2019. He also hid this beauty on the inside of the P\u0101ua shell while making the outside of it a brown and grey colour to give the sea snail important camouflage from predators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"kea\"><strong>Kea (Parrot)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This M\u0101ori named bird is native to New Zealand\u2019s South Island and is a large mountain parrot. It has olive-green plumage with brilliant orange under its wings. They are known for their intelligence.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"tuatara\"><strong>Tuatara (Reptile)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Tuatara&nbsp;are reptiles which live in New Zealand. Although they look like lizards they are a different species (called Rhynchocephalia), which is the sole survivor of a lineage as old as the first dinosaurs. The tuatara, which measure about 31 inches long, can decapitate birds with their jaws, live to 100 years old and can remain active in near freezing temperatures. Their name derives from the&nbsp;M\u0101ori&nbsp;language, and&nbsp;means&nbsp;&#8220;peaks on the back&#8221;.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"pohutukawa\"><strong>Pohutukawa (New Zealand Christmas Trees)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Pohutukawa tree is an evergreen New Zealand tree of the myrtle family, which bears crimson flowers in December and January. Affectionately known as the Kiwi Christmas tree, it features on greetings cards and in poems and songs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The tree is also part of the M\u0101ori mythology and a Pohutukawa tree which grows on a cliff top on the northern most tip of New Zealand marks \u2018the place of the leaping\u2019. It is from here that the spirits of the dead are said to begin their journey to their traditional homeland of Hawaiki.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"h\u0101ngi\"><strong>H\u0101ngi (Pit Oven)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a traditional&nbsp;M\u0101ori&nbsp;method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven, called an umu. It is still used for large groups on special occasions.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"ruapehu\"><strong>Ruapehu (Volcano)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Mount Ruapehu&nbsp;is situated in the North Island and is the largest active volcano in New Zealand. In M\u0101ori \u2018ruapehu\u2019 means &#8216;pit of noise&#8217; or &#8216;exploding pit&#8217;.&nbsp;Mount Ruapehu qualifies as both a mountain and a volcano and the M\u0101ori have strong spiritual links to it. It is also called&nbsp;Koro (grandad) Ruapehu by some of the locals.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"rakiura\"><strong>Rakiura (Island)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Rakiura is the M\u0101ori&nbsp;name for Stewart Island, which is 19 miles south of South Island. The M\u0101ori name&nbsp;means&nbsp;&#8216;glowing skies&#8217;, a reference to the Southern Lights, which are also called Aurora Australis and can sometimes be seen from the island.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"kapa\"><strong>Kapa Haka (Performing Arts)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The M\u0101ori word \u2018haka\u2019 has become known across the world as the ceremonial war dance performed by the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team. The word haka literally means \u2018dance\u2019 and when combined with the word \u2018kapa\u2019 (group) it means a M\u0101ori performing arts group.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"koru\"><strong>Koru (Loop or Coil)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;koru&nbsp;(M\u0101ori&nbsp;for &#8216;loop\u2019 or \u2018coil\u2019) is a spiral shape based on the appearance of a new unfurling Silver Fern frond. It is an important symbol in&nbsp;M\u0101ori&nbsp;art, carving and tattooing, where it symbolises new life, growth, strength and peace.&nbsp;Its circular shape is also said to represent the idea of perpetual movement while its inward coil suggests a return to the point of origin.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;\"><h2 id=\"final\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>That is how we have come full circle in this article on Maori culture, language and the Silver Fern or \u2018ponga\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are interested in hearing how to pronounce the key words described above, they just so happen to be voiced in M\u0101ori on the uTalk \u2013 Learn Any Language app. Just select the topic or category called Aotearoa (New Zealand). A culturally specific topic like this is included in most of the uTalk languages and gives learners an introduction to words which have a special meaning in the language they are learning. It does not include translations because there would be just too much information to include(!)&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, in case this article\u2019s headline \u2018Lights will guide you home\u2019 seemed familiar, it\u2019s also a lyric from Coldplay\u2019s&nbsp;<em>Fix You<\/em>&nbsp;song.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Find out how a simple plant, once used to guide M\u0101ori hunters home after nightfall, is now a much-loved symbol of New Zealand. The history of the Silver Fern is just one of the fascinating facts about the M\u0101ori language and culture that we\u2019re celebrating as part of \u2018Te Wiki o te Reo M\u0101ori\u2019, which &#8230; <a title=\"Lights Will Guide You Home\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/lights-will-guide-you-home\/\" aria-label=\"More on Lights Will Guide You Home\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1704],"tags":[46,1481,1706,350],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7555"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7555"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7555\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/utalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}