Siblings in Māori Myth, Culture and Present-Day Society

Abstract

Brother–sister relationships and differing roles and responsibilities between older and younger siblings figure strongly in the culture of Māori and other Pacific indigenous groups. They are illustrated in creation mythology and the exploits of demi-gods. A basic cultural concept is the “customary extended family”—whānau—which is still central to Māori society, along with the “tuakana-teina” (older and younger siblings) distinction, defining roles, responsibilities and precedence. There are many examples of how these concepts apply in traditional Māori society and are now expressed in contemporary life—in family ceremonies, such as funerals, relationships between social groups and in everyday talk and activities. The terminology has also been adopted throughout the education system in New Zealand, from pre-school to tertiary levels, as a model for “buddy” systems and tutorial interactions. Tuakana-teina terminology has even been adopted for peer mentoring among older Māori, indicating experience rather than age. The Māori concept of sibling relationships—and equivalent roles such as those accorded first-cousins—has thus been extended for use in situations and services applying also to non-Maori. In this respect tuakana-teina and related Māori kinship concepts have become part of a bi-cultural Aotearoa/New Zealand.