Did you know? There are an amazing 761 Māori rock art sites in Te Waipounamu (the South Island). Over half of these are found in South Canterbury! That means the Timaru District is a very special place for learning about early Māori life.
Long ago, Māori people travelled all over the South Island. They followed rivers, which were like roads to them, as they searched for food and useful things like plants for medicine, materials for clothes, and stones for tools and weapons.
Timaru has a lot of limestone rock, which can wear away over time and form caves and shelters. Māori travellers often stopped to rest in these places. While they were there, they made rock drawings. Some were carved into the stone, and others were painted using colours made from soot and iron from the earth.
These drawings are thought to be hundreds of years old. They show stories, give warnings, and share knowledge. They are a special gift from the ancestors to everyone living today.
See if you can find... what could look like:
- People and animals drawn on the cave walls
- Shapes and patterns that may have special meanings
- Pictures that tell stories from the past
- Colours made from natural things like soot and iron
- Hidden shelters in limestone cliffs and caves
There are four places in the Timaru District where you can explore these amazing drawings on your own!
Fauth family went to one of the many planting days to help restablish the flora and fauna in the area, Annabelle planted a Totara. It is lovely to be able to give our time to the amazing group of people who are caring for this site. Photos Roselyn Fauth
