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Table 1 Comparative table showing the analogy between Māori knowledge system ( Mātauranga Māori ) and Western Geosciences

From: Bridging Māori indigenous knowledge and western geosciences to reduce social vulnerability in active volcanic regions

Maori knowledge

Western-Science

Mātauranga Māori: Empirical and spiritual methods, inherited tradition and costums

Astrophysics, Geology, Palaeontology, Biology, Archaeology, Anthropology

Whakapapa (Genealogy)

Cosmogony

The three baskets of knowledge

Principle of Uniformitarianism, Law of Superposition, non-linearity of Space-Time

Atua: ancestors (divinities) with influence over particular domains

Potential Energy

Mouri: the principle of life-force or essence within all animate and inanimate things, and resulting interconnection between all forms of life. It is the power that creates unity in diversity, the binding power that unifies.

Dark energy, principles of thermodynamics

Hihiri: absolute energy, a form of illumination or aura, which appears in all living things

Electromagnetic and gravity fields

Mouri-Ora: the life principle existing in animate and inanimate things and remains with them throughout its existence.

a) Earth Physics (dynamics): convection within Earth Nucleus and Mantle, Plate Tectonics, the Rock cycle, earthquakes, orogeny, volcanic activity, atmospheric processes, formation of soils, crystals.

b) Living things: Genetic code

Male and Female principles

Sexual reproduction

Papatūānuku: Mother Earth as a living being

Planet Earth: Dynamic System

Ruaumoko: god of earthquakes and volcanoes represented as the youngest son of Papatuanuku and living underneath her.

Earth’s core and mantle convection, Plate tectonics

Kaitiaki: divinities created by the love of Papatūānuku (Earth, female principle) and Ranginui (Sky, male principle). Some of the most mentioned in the narratives are Tangaroa (god of oceans), Tawhirimatea (god of winds), Tanemahuta (god of forests), Whiro (darkness, god in charge of illness, strengthen by death)

Natural forces and cycles

Kaitiakitanga: Active, interdependent relationship between Atua, natural resources, ancestors, present human generation. It considers the inhabitants knowledge of the physical space and the “layers of events and relationships that have occurred in that area over time” (Forster, 2011).

Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Stratigraphy, History

Tāne Mahuta, the direct ancestor of Man: humans and trees are genetically related

The Human being and trees share some DNA

Mana whenua: the potential of the land

The ability of the land to produce the benefits of nature. It is linked to environmental conservation, land distribution

Matua Te Mana, Koro, Te Whare Toka o Paerangi: name of Mt. Ruapehu, considered as Ngati Rangi ancestor

Mt. Ruapehu: the most active inland volcano of New Zealand.

Ka Ora tenei whenua: Mt. Ruapehu protects the tribe, provides healing water, rivers, soils, snow

Benefits from volcanoes, including: (1) Main water sources for Ngati Rangi territory, (2) Soils fertilization from degradation of volcanic ash, (3) contribution to Earth’s atmosphere composition, (4) Tourism

The mahi (job) of volcanoes, needed to maintain the life, natural cycles, processes, and the world as we know it

Volcanic hazards

Tapu

Vulnerability and Risk perception and management

Ngati Rangi Iwi identity and awareness of their geologically active environment