The interconnected nature of the contexts that influence young people’s development can be viewed through the metaphor of a woven mat. The woven mat or whāriki and rāranga (weaving) have deep symbolic and spiritual meaning for Māori.
Weaving a whāriki takes knowledge, skill and time. It is almost always done together and when completely finished, a whāriki is a taonga (treasure) valued for its artistry and mauri (vital essence).
Bronfenbrenner’s work (described in A Sociological Perspective) aligns with a Māori worldview, which emphasises interdependent relationships, and positions the child within whānau, hapū and iwi as a link between past, present and future.
