The Village Approach: Māori Child Rearing
It Takes a Village
Māori culture is built upon the premise that… Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari, he toa takitini
(my achievements are not of myself, but because of the many
). Māori culture personifies the belief that it takes a village to raise a child.
The marae provides a venue for families and extended families to interact in a uniquely Māori environment where children learn their culture.
A Community Committed to Their Children
Māori raise their children together, participate in activities together, build, work, and play together as a village unit. Even their music is known for its beautiful harmonies. This interaction unifies villagers and allows them to pass on their culture from generation to generation by preparing them for the future while honoring the past.
Everything in Māori culture is built upon the premise of: my achievements are not of myself, but because of many.
Māori culture personifies the belief that it takes a village.
Preparing for the Future
Through games and athletics, Māori prepare their children with physical coordination. Their songs and chants give them historical knowledge. The Māori culture believes that a village must work together in order to prepare their children for the challenges they will meet in the future.
Visit the Māori Community on Oʻahu
In the Māori Village at The Polynesian Cultural Center, our guests are invited to participate in some of the activities taught to all children. This includes Poi Twirling (ball-on-the-end-of-string), Tititorea, a game of tossing sticks (shown in our lead image), which is popular in grade schools, and Mauī-Matau, which uses larger poles. In this version, the players stand in a circle balancing 3–6 foot poles as they move right and left.
Want to experience this firsthand? We would love to welcome you to our Māori Village here at The Polynesian Cultural Center. We have many games and skills available for you to try. It’s a great way to exercise not only your body, but your brain as well.