Kaitiakitanga o te Moana

The importance of the sea

For hundreds of years the ocean has given Māori food and tools, as well as great places to live, swim and play. Māori respect the ocean and often call it Tangaroa, meaning god of the sea.

Before ocean voyages or before fishing it is common for Māori to recite karakia to ask for protection from Tangaroa and offer thanks while they carry out these tasks.

As well as great voyages, Tangaroa played an important part in the lives of early Māori. When Pakeha began arriving in New Zealand they often said how skilful the Māori people were at fishing and diving for food. Fish was one of the main sources of protein for Māori.

Apart from food, Tangaroa also provided many other things that were used in day to day living. Shark and whale oil was used to preserve birds in hue (or gourds), whale bones were used to make weapons and jewellery, and shells from the paua were used on carved whare tipuna (or meeting houses).

The sea as a taonga/treasure

Māori people believe that the sea is a Taonga Tuku iho – a treasure that has been passed down from past generations. By looking after this treasure, the ocean will keep providing for the future.

https://www.learnz.org.nz/sustainableseas181/bg-easy-f/kaitiakitanga-o-te-moana

Note: there is some images in this video that may upset some people.

What is the albatross a symbol of for many people?
What technology is the biggest threat to the toroa (albatross)?
If they became extinct, how would the loss of the toroa affect Māori people?

The stomach contents of this albatross include plastic marine debris fed to the chick by its parents.

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/teaching-idea-plastic-pollution/

Every year, about 200,000 albatross chicks like this one die. Most die from dehydration or starvation due to the plastic they ingest. Some scientists calculate that albatrosses feed their chicks about five tons of plastic every year. Plastics, seen in the carcass here, include discarded fishing gear and plastic bags. This is a major reason why most supermarkets do not use plastic bags any more.