Today, I want to talk to you about something we all see and use every day—land.

Land is all around us. It’s the ground we walk on, the place where we build our homes, grow our food, and play with our friends. Without land, we wouldn't have farms, parks, schools, or even animals living in the wild.

Land is important because it gives us so many things. Fruits, vegetables, grains—all of these come from the land. Trees grow on land and give us oxygen to breathe. Even the animals we love, like birds, rabbits, and deer, live on land.

But here’s the problem: people are cutting down too many trees, building too many buildings, and not taking care of the land. This can hurt the soil, plants,

animals, and even us. If we don’t take care of the land, we could run out of clean water, fresh food, and safe places to live.

So, what can we do to help?

We can plant trees. We can recycle. We can keep our parks and school grounds clean. We can learn how to use land wisely, without wasting it.

Even small things can make a big difference.

Remember: the land is a gift. It helps us live happy, healthy lives. So let’s take care of it, not just for us, but for the future—for our children and grandchildren.

I’m so excited to be here today to talk to you about something very close to my heart, something that is alive, something that connects us all. Today, I want to talk about the land  or as we say in Te Reo Māori, the whenua.

But I don’t just want to talk about the land under our feet here in Aotearoa. I want to take us on a journey   all across to Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Tokelau, Niue, and beyond. Because the land, the   whenua  connects all of us.

And even though we come from many different islands and speak many different languages, we all share something in common we respect the land and the sea.

For Pacific people, the land is not just a place to build houses or grow food. The land is sacred. It holds the spirits of our ancestors, our legends, and our identity.

In Samoa, we call land whenua  and it’s part of the āiga, the family. Land is shared among generations. It’s not something you sell or throw away. It is part of your name, your pride, your story.

So you see, in every Pacific language, land is not something we own. It is

something we care for, respect, and protect.

Today, I want to talk to you about something very important—whenua, or land. Whenua is not just dirt or soil. It is the earth beneath our feet, the place where plants grow, animals live, and where we build our homes. It’s the place that gives us food, water, and the resources we need to live.

In Aotearoa (New Zealand), whenua holds a special place in our culture. For Māori, whenua is connected to our identity, our ancestors, and our future. It is a gift from the land, and it has been passed down through many generations.

Whenua is also important because it connects us to the environment. When we look after the land, the land looks after us. If we take care of the whenua by keeping it clean, planting trees, and protecting animals, the land will continue to provide for us. But if we don’t take care of the land, it can get sick, and it won’t be able to support us as it has for so long.

One way we can care for the land is by planting trees. Trees help clean the air, provide shelter for animals, and keep the soil healthy. Another way is by making sure we don’t waste water or throw rubbish on the ground.

If we all do our part, we can help keep the whenua safe and beautiful for many generations to come.

So, next time you’re outside, think about the whenua beneath your feet. Appreciate the land for everything it gives us, and remember that we have a responsibility to look after it.

Thank you for listening. 

Māori traditionally held land communally, with strong spiritual connections to the whenua (land). Following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, European settlement led to significant land loss for Māori, primarily through Crown purchases and confiscations. The Native Land Court, established in 1862, played a key role in transitioning communal land ownership to individual titles, facilitating further land sales. By the early 20th century, Māori had lost the majority of their ancestral lands, though some remains in Māori ownership to this day. 

New Zealand's history is marked by a relatively short period of human settlement compared to other landmasses, with Māori arriving from East Polynesia between 1250 and 1300 CE, followed by European arrival and colonization beginning in the 17th century.

Talofa lava, malō e lelei, bula vinaka, and warm greetings to you all!

Today, I want to talk to you about something really important – something that we all rely on every single day. It’s whenua, or land. Whenua is not just the ground beneath our feet – it's our home, our place of connection, and a gift from the ancestors who came before us.

You see, whenua is more than just soil or dirt. It’s a living part of who we are. It’s where we plant our gardens, where we build our houses, and where we play with our friends. Whenua gives us food, fresh air, and water. It’s the earth that holds everything together, and without it, we wouldn’t have life.

In Māori culture, we believe that we have a special relationship with the land. Our tūpuna (ancestors) understood that whenua is sacred, meaning it is something very special and worthy of respect. They believed that the land is not just something we use, but something we care for and protect.

Whenua provides everything we need: food, shelter, and even beauty. When you stand on the land, you are standing on the same whenua that your ancestors stood on. This connection to the land is called whakapapa – it’s our family tree, and the land is a part of it.

Imagine if the land didn’t have trees or plants. Imagine if the rivers were polluted or the soil wasn’t healthy. What would happen? There would be no fresh air to breathe, no food to eat, and no beautiful nature to enjoy. This is why it’s so important that we care for the whenua.

Remember, the whenua  is not just for us—it’s for everyone who comes after us. So let’s work together to keep it clean, happy, and safe for all the generations to come. When we care for the whenua, we are helping our whole world!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, we come together to reflect on the land beneath our feet — whenua. This is more than just soil, rock, or earth; it is a living, breathing entity. It is our mother, our home, our heritage.

The land carries stories written in its hills, rivers, and forests, stories of our ancestors, their dreams, struggles, and wisdom.

In the Māori worldview, the land is sacred. It is the very essence of our identity, and it nourishes us in ways both tangible and intangible. From the food it provides, to the air we breathe, and even the peace we find when we walk barefoot on the earth, whenua is a gift of life itself. It teaches us patience, resilience, and interconnectedness, as it has for generations.

When we walk on the whenua, we are not just citizens of a nation, but stewards of a living history. The land holds memories of those who came before us, and it will hold the hopes of those who come after. Every mountain, every tree, every stone is part of a greater story that we are privileged to be a part of.

Let us walk gently upon the earth, mindful of every step, every breath, and every moment we are given. May we honor the land, as it has always honored us, and may we carry its spirit with us in all that we do.

Thank you.

Now, Whenua can refer to nature, mountains, and the environment around us. Whenua is important because it has a far more deeper meaning than just “Land”. Some people think it can connect physically. It can connect mentally too! It can connect to our ancestors and the history of our family. Now, what is so important about the topic “Whenua”? Well, here are the reasons why.

#1: Our Survival 

Whenua is crucial for our survival. It can mean fresh water, clean air, places to build houses, and other essential necessities. Without Whenua, the human population could decrease seriously. Without humans, tons of catastrophic events could happen.

#2: Animal Habitats

Animals can make a big impact on us too! Whenua can make homes for animals. With no animals, a multitude of things could occur. Plants can struggle growing and the soil can’t be fertilized. Plants can struggle growing due to them relying on other animals to spread their seeds. There are such things as “Decomposers”. They eat deceased animals and dead plants. Then once the decomposers feast, they release nutrients back to the soil making it rich. Also, animal manure (Poop) fertilizes the soil. Without them we could be extinct!

#3 Protecting our Whenua

By using the three R’s. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Some examples include

• Walking or Cycling as cars create pollution.

• Protecting Wildlife. Not protecting wildlife can result in an unbalanced ecosystem and break the food chain.

Overall, I think Land = Life because it provides food, water, and shelter. We shouldn't be fighting over land, we should be SHARING land!

Thanks for listening to my speech, have a good day! Or as I should say, Kia Pai to Ra! Ka Kite Ano!

   Whenua, Land.

Kia ora, talofa lava, bula Vinaka and Malolele and greeting all my name is Atonio and and i’ll present a speech to you all.

Whenua is a meaning of land and land has soil, solar energy and cultural things. And our nations also give oxygen to us. We should respect that someone that made land for us people and we offer something for him.

We should be thankful that He gave it like a gift for us and He gives it like it’s our birthday and we thank him for a reason.

We could play, we could play and eat but he gave us food to eat and he gave us land and when we go live in the forest we will meet nature, the god and mother land made for me and other people in this world.

In Maori culture, whenua or land is not just a physical space, but a deeply spiritual and ancestral connection It identity  and the enduring relationship between people and place. 

The concept of whenua extends beyond mere ownership to encompass protecting  guardianship and mana whenua authority and spiritual connection. 

Being able to walk on the land that your ancestors walked on helps strengthen the connection to who you are. It connects you to your whakapapa and helps you understand who you are and how you came to be.

I believe that when god made land i think he gave it like a gift and thank you for listening to my speech.

In Swason,Auckland,we are fortunate to live in a place with a strong connection to the land.We see this in our thriving local farms,our beautiful parks and reserves,and the way our community comes together to protect our natural environment.However,we also face challenges.Population growth puts pressure on our land,and we need to ensure that development is managed responsibly.

One key issue is that we are grappling with is the balance between growth and environment protection how do we ensure that our community can thrive while also safe guarding our natural heritage? how do we make sure our decisions are useful benefits everyone not just select a few?

to address these challenges we need to work together we need to engage in open land we need to listen to consern of all landrowns and develop the environment groups and resisdents

By working together can create a futue where our land is used wisely and situationally where our community thrives!

Mālō e lelei, Kia ora, Bula Vinaka and Talofa lava.

My name is David Moala, and I am happy to share with you about "My Land, My Strength and Whenua".

I’m a 9 year old boy who learns a little differently. Sometimes I need more time. Sometimes I need help. But I never give up.

My journey starts in the heart of Aotearoa, where the land speaks. The mountains, the rivers, the trees they all tell stories. The people of the land taught me to listen with more than just my ears. They taught me about whānau, mana, and tūrangawaewae knowing where I stand.

I kept walking.

Then came the songs of the Pacific. The drums of Samoa, the dances of Tonga, the stories of Fiji. Our islands are full of strength and pride. They taught me that even when things are hard, we can smile, sing, and keep moving.

I’ve had hard days. Days when I didn’t feel worthy. Days when I wanted to quit. But this journey, with the spirit of God, reminded me:

I am not alone. I carry my people with me. I carry the land with me. And I am strong.

Thank you.