Figure 1.4 Traditional Māori view of the water cycle

Textual description

This figure describes a simple form of the water cycle in the Māori world view. Waiora, water with the purest mauri or life force, falls as rain. Rain that hits the earth becomes waiMāori, and can be used for daily activity. The mauri is a force for good if well treated. This can then become polluted or waimate (the mauri can become evil and harmful). To be cleansed, the water must pass through the earth (Papatuanuku). From there it becomes waitai as it enters the sea and the mauri is restored, before becoming waiora once again.