The Pā That Matawhero Built by Mark Peters is an informative non-fiction text that explores how Matawhero Lloyd rebuilt Pakeke o Whirikoka, a traditional pā near Whatatutu, to reclaim and honour his whānau’s heritage. Through detailed explanation and lived experience, the text describes how Matawhero studied the land, researched traditional pā design, and worked alongside whānau and kaumātua to rebuild structures such as the pātūtū (palisade), whare moe (sleeping house), and pūhara (watchtower) using natural materials and traditional methods. The text also weaves in pūrākau, including the story of Whirikoka the tipua, and highlights how kaitiakitanga and sustainability guide the ongoing care of the land and waterways. Richly layered and place-based, the text supports students to understand Māori history as living, active, and connected to people, land, and future generations. 

The text is ideal for integrated learning across literacy and social sciences, supporting inquiry into local history, tikanga Māori, kaitiakitanga, sustainability, and continuity and change in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This pack contains wide range of response activities including:

• A guided reading plan exploring key literacy elements including inference and deduction, language use, making connection and text organisation, along with key questioning to promote emotional intelligence, metacognition and compassionate inquiry. 
• An independent learning contract complete with explainer videos for activity clarity
  
• A wide range of response activities to support developing and embedding key literacy skills including sentence and word work, spelling, and cloze activities. 

Curriculum Phase: Phase 3

Year Level: Year 6

English (NZC Levels 3–4):
reading for meaning and critical thinking, synthesising information across sections, analysing author voice, interpreting visual and written sources, building historical and cultural vocabulary

Social Sciences – Aotearoa New Zealand Histories:
local histories, mana whenua, tikanga Māori, colonisation and land use, continuity and change, identity and belonging

Text type:
Non-fiction, historical report, informational text, place-based history

Key words include:
pā, Pakeke o Whirikoka, Matawhero Lloyd, Ngāi Tamatea, Whatatutu, Gisborne, Te Tairāwhiti, tīpuna, tūpuna, whānau, heritage, restoration, kaitiaki, kaitiakitanga, sustainability, tikanga, pātūtū, whare moe, pūhara, mānuka, tōtara, raupō, harakeke, waterways, reforestation, archaeology, living memorial, local history, Aotearoa New Zealand