Module 2: Collect

Wai on Earth is finite. So, if all life depends on wai, how come it doesn’t run out?

The answer to that pātai is the water cycle. And, it all began with Ranginui and Papatūānuku.

Watch video: A Māori Creation Story in Sand

To this day, Ranginui and Papatūānuku still yearn to be together. The teardrops of Ranginui (rain), the sighs of Papatūānuku (mist), and their children, help them to stay connected.

The natural water cycle

You can see the eternal dance between Ranginui, Papatūānuku and their children in the natural water cycle. The water cycle helps to recycle wai, so it doesn’t run out.

Earth has been recycling wai for over 4 billion years! In fact, the water from your tap is the same as the water that the first ever humans drank.

It looks something like this:

Through processes like evaporation and transpiration, the tears of Ranginui are returned to him after they’ve nourished Papatūānuku. And then the cycle continues…

To support wai to reach our hapori, STEM superstars have created an incredible wai network. Let’s check in with Lupesina to learn more.

Do you remember the four stages of water’s journey through our wai network?

So, now we know how important wai is to the whenua, and our hapori. And we’ve started exploring some of the many journeys of wai. Rōpū, it’s time to let your imaginations flow and start creating your own wai network!

Challenge scenario

The first step is to understand your challenge scenario. Half of the class will do challenge scenario 1, and the other half will do challenge scenario 2.

Your job is to create a wai network that will solve your challenge scenario and includes all four parts of a real-life wai network – collect, clean, connect and care. Make sure you’re always thinking about how to practise kaitiakitanga and protect the mauri of wai on its journey.

STEM design process – imagine and plan

To get started on this mahi, you’ll continue with the STEM design process and imagine and plan some solutions to your challenge scenario.

Now that you have a pool of ideas for your network, you’re ready to create it – starting with stage one, collect.

Rōpū, you’re going to do some collection of your own and see how much wai Ranginui cries over a week.

Changes in our climate can lead to changes in the amount of precipitation we experience. When temperatures are hotter, it can either dry out the land and cause droughts – or it can cause lots of evaporation, leading to more condensation, and more rain.

We can use data to draw conclusions on whether precipitation is being impacted by climate change.

Wai data

Data is an important tool in STEM superstars’ kete (basket). It helps them understand what’s happening around us and work out ways to solve problems.

Using your data from activity 2.3, and the climate data tool linked below, compare the precipitation in mm (millimetres) over the last week, to the precipitation in mm at this time 10 years ago.

Mīharo. Today you:

• Learned about Ranginui and Papatūānuku
• Explored the water cycle
• Discovered Aotearoa New Zealand’s wai network
• Continued the STEM design process
• Imagined and planned your wai network
• Collected wai and analysed precipitation data