How did Māori measure things without rulers? How did they make sure their measurements were consistent every time?
Recommended for year 1 to 8
This lesson is available for class sharing as Google slides 
Curriculum Links:
Mathematics: Geometry and Measurement
Level 1
- Create and use appropriate units and devices to measure length, area, volume and capacity, weight (mass), turn (angle), temperature, and time.
- Partition and/or combine like measures and communicate them, using numbers and units.
- Order and compare objects or events by length, area, volume and capacity, weight (mass), turn (angle), temperature, and time by direct comparison and/or counting whole numbers of units.
Level 2
- Create and use appropriate units and devices to measure length, area, volume and capacity, weight (mass), turn (angle), temperature, and time.
- Partition and/or combine like measures and communicate them, using numbers and units.
Level 3
- Use linear scales and whole numbers of metric units for length, area, volume and capacity, weight (mass), angle, temperature, and time.
- Find areas of rectangles and volumes of cuboids by applying multiplication.
Technology: The Nature of Technology
Level 1
Characteristics of technology:
Understand that technology is purposeful intervention through design.
Characteristics of technological outcomes:
Understand that technological outcomes are products or systems developed by people and have a physical nature and a functional nature.
Level 2
Characteristics of technology:
Understand that technology both reflects and changes society and the environment and increases people’s capability.
Characteristics of technological outcomes:
Understand that technological outcomes are developed through technological practice and have related physical and functional natures.
Level 3
Characteristics of technology:
Understand that technology both reflects and changes society and the environment and increases people’s capability.
Characteristics of technological outcomes:
Understand that technological outcomes are developed through technological practice and have related physical and functional natures.
Level 4
Characteristics of technology:
Understand how technological development expands human possibilities and how technology draws on knowledge from a wide range of disciplines.
Characteristics of technological outcomes:
Understand that technological outcomes can be interpreted in terms of how they might be used and by whom and that each has a proper function as well as possible alternative functions.
Early measurement in Māori culture was based on the human body, especially the fingers and arms. Using these measurements, one could describe the girth of a tree, the size of a fish, the length of a canoe or the height and width of a new building. This way of measuring was used in building whare (houses), whakairo (carving), raranga (weaving) and tā (tattooing).
A designated person within each Iwi could be used as the ‘standard measure’, this job often fell to an ariki (high ranking chief). There is evidence from East coast Iwi that the arm-span measurements of particular people were recorded on a rauru (measuring stick or twine) which was used for building whare.
The name of this person would then be recorded in the history of that whare. These rauru were often considered taonga (treasure) and were handed down over multiple generations.
Here are some photos demonstrating the measurements
Suggested Activities:
- Look for a tree that is the same circumference as your pae
- Measure the area of your table using papanui
- Look for something in your house that is the same size as your kōiti and mati
- Compare the length of your mārō with your height
- Measure the length of your driveway using your whetoko (Stay safe! Watch out for cars)
- Find the person in your class with the largest ringa
- Draw round your body with chalk, measure and label the following Māori measurements: awanui, hau, tuke, pakihiwi
- Create your own inenga pictures to hang in the classroom
- Measure the distance covered by your kumi and convert this to metres.
Look further:
Explore the international system of units (SI units) and download the te reo Māori summary of SI units. https://measurement.govt.nz/metrology/si-units/
References Cited:
Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao, University of Waikato, Early Māori Measurement. Retrieved from www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1856-early-maori-measurement
Te Aomania Te Koha, Farzana Masouleh, March 2019. Measurements Standards laboratory of New Zealand, Ngā Inenga Māori: A Preliminary Study on Māori Measurement. Retrieved from www.measurement.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Nga-Inenga-Maori-A-Preliminary-Study-on-Maori-Measurement.pdf
This lesson is available for class sharing as Google slides
