Ka mua ka muri.
Looking back to look forward connects us with our past and helps to shape our future.
This whakataukī highlights the ways literacy is used to communicate and connect with others across time and space. Literacy facilitates the intergenerational transmission of Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) through a range of forms and practices. Oral storytelling, for instance, has been and remains important for passing down knowledge, history, customs, and wisdom. Rich in metaphor, poetry, and prose, te reo Māori forms include whaikōrero, karakia, karanga, whakapapa, waiata, mōteatea, pūrākau, and haka. This continues today through writings, science, literature, the arts, and digital technologies. It is the essence of whanaungatanga or building connections and establishing a sense of belonging. The flourishing of te reo Māori is at the heart of tino rangatiratanga or Māori self-determination and is critical to overall Māori wellbeing.
In te ao Māori world, there are localised variations which determine many of the forms and functions of literacy. By learning about local iwi/hapū, their connections to place, stories, and dialects, kaiako support the role of literacy in fostering both individual and collective identity for Māori. This is achieved by building reciprocal relationships over time. It emphasises the importance of engaging with and respecting each community's unique cultural heritage and language.
