Uncle Goose - Maori Alphabet Blocks

$94.50 NZD
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This imaginative block set of marauding gods, numbers, math symbols and the Maori alphabet will help to carry Te Reo Maori through the generations. Also, we think it looks pretty cool.
These blocks have been created by UncleGoose and Wellington artist Johnson Witehira.

Johnson brings together two cultures (Maori & Pakeha) by producing these alphabet blocks that are specially designed to educate children.

The printed wooden blocks feature the Te Reo alphabet, alongside traditional carving patterns and figures from six Iwi around the country. The figures can be stacked atop one another, like Pou on a Marae. They are interchanged with tuku tuku patterns and letters.

Maori believe language is the lifeforce of their culture, they even have a saying for it; "Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Maori. Ka ngaro te reo, Ka ngaro taua, pera i te ngaro o te Moa."

If the language is lost, we will perish like the Moa.
24 blocks in a set | 1.75" cubes (44mm) |


Ages 2
LIMITED DISTRIBUTION

JOHNSON, THE DESIGNER SAYS:

In creating the Maori alphabet set with Unclegoose, I thought that it would be great if we could use them not just for learning the letters, but as a way to learn about the important carving styles.

With this in mind, I decided that the carved figures should be the children of Rangi and Papa. For Maori children, knowing who these figures are and the narrative about the creation of Te Ao Marama and Te Ao Turoa is very important.

Considering this, the six different carved figures created are Tanemahuta, Tangaroa, Tawhirimatea, Haumiatiketike, Rongomatane and Tumatauenga. Each figure holds an item relevant to his character.

For example, Tumatauenga , auta o te pakanga, holds a wahaika (a Maori weapon), while Rongomatane, atua o te kumara me rangimarie, holds a kumara.

 

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