Berkley Center

Admittedly, I didn’t know a whole lot about New Zealand before arriving in Auckland this July. One of the few things I was well aware of, though, was the country’s unique and beautiful natural life. When you go through customs, the harshest fines are attached to bringing in any kind of plant or bacteria that may damage the ecosystem. Because of how isolated the islands that make up New Zealand are, the flora and fauna are unlike those seen anywhere else on earth. The pride that the nation takes in its environment is palpable. I thought that the agricultural and tourist sectors were enough to drive this conservationism, but once I arrived I learned there is also a spiritual component.

The Maori people are the indigenous residents of New Zealand, and although British colonialism drastically reduced their numbers, political activism in the 1970s brought a resurgence of Maori culture and pride. One of many Maori supported political projects was the institutionalization of care for the environment. The term kaitiakitanga was coined in Maori to describe the obligation that the people of New Zealand have to take care of their lands. A kaitiaki is a Maori spiritual guardian, typically manifested as a plant or animal, who protects both the land and those who inhabit it. Kaitiakitanga means the actions of the kaitiaki, which in its intended usage means all residents of New Zealand. According to Maori thought and religion, people owe respect and honor to the land and all things that come from it. The policy that kaitiakitanga necessitates enforces conservation and preserves the ecosystems of New Zealand, according to a Maori worldview.

One of the key reasons that Maori hold environmental protectionism in such high esteem is that their religion sees gods in natural phenomena. The Maori creation myth personifies the various forces and functions of nature, resulting in a phenomenal world that can trace its origins immediately back to the divine. While most religions place their god as the creator of the world, the Maori, by worshiping the two primary gods Papatuanuku (the earth mother) and Ranginui (the sky father), place their gods directly in and on the planet, acknowledging the holiness and value of nature itself. These two main gods are the parents of mankind; therefore the humans have a relationship with the world in which they inhabit. Overusing the resources that are available on the earth damages this relationship between the earth and man. Parents will care for their children and protect them, but the children need to show respect and care as well. This kind of metaphorical thinking about the necessity of care for the earth could be taught outside of New Zealand as well; we all ought to learn to understand the importance of this planet.

Earth-linked deities create a holy obligation to care for the planet. Too often a modern Western outlook sees the earth as belonging to man, whereas the Maori see man as belonging to the earth. These two diametrically opposed worldviews create drastically different outcomes for the planet. If more people can learn to see the world as something phenomenal, living, and even maybe holy, a greater respect could be fostered for our home.