The phrase ‘He Mokopuna He Tupuna’ is one that provides a cultural framework for understanding the positioning of tamariki within Te Ao Māori. It is drawn from the following whakatauki:
"He Tupuna he mokopuna. Mā wai i whakaki i ngā whawharua o ngā mātua Tupuna? Mā ā tātou mokopuna.! He mokopuna he Tupuna."
This whakatauki draws us to the essence of the whakapapa relationship between generations. It asserts that we are all mokopuna and we are all tupuna. The mokopuna will in future generations take the place of the tupuna. All grandchildren in time become grandparents. Each generation links through whakapapa4 to each other and we are a reflection and continuance of our ancestral lines. This research project was developed to provide insights into tikanga ā Taranaki and
traditional childrearing beliefs and practices. The project was visioned, developed and undertaken by Iwi researchers and Providers of Taranaki. The project has been informed by Kaupapa Māori research methodology and this has been expressed more fully through whakapapa and whanaungatanga approaches to each aspect of the research. Key cultural concepts and practices within a Kaupapa Māori methodology provide us with strategies for our research practices. (from the Introduction and Methodology). Record #4845