Culture
The Māori world view (te ao Māori) acknowledges the interconnectedness and interrelationship of all living and non-living things. This holistic approach seeks to understand the total system, not just parts of it.
The principles of kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the land) are central to Māori culture. Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand, and carry an intergenerational duty to restore and increase the mauri (life force, vitality) to the land and water, and to nurture the reciprocal relationship between tangata (people) and the whenua (land).
Whanaungatanga is about relationship and a sense of family connection. It is created through shared experiences and working together and provides people with a sense of community.
Manaakitanga means to extend aroha (love and compassion) to others, such as helping a family member, encouraging a friend or even supporting a complete stranger.
Mauri is an energy which binds and animates all things in the physical world. Without mauri, energy cannot flow into a person or object.
Kaitiaki is a person, or group of people, who act as carers, guardians, protectors and conservors.
Māori knowledge (mātauranga) includes not only what is known, but how it is known – the way we perceive and understand the world around us. It includes the values and systems of thought that form perceptions.