Māori Pattern Transformations

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🔄 Part 1: Symmetry (Ritenga) and Rotation (Hurihanga)

1. Draw a koru (spiral) pattern in the box below. Draw a line of symmetry through your koru.

2. Which of these statements about tukutuku panels is correct?

Tukutuku panels never have lines of symmetry

Tukutuku panels often have multiple lines of symmetry

Tukutuku panels only have horizontal symmetry

3. Draw a simple Māori motif (like a koru or manaia). Then draw how it would look rotated 90 degrees clockwise.

4. If you rotate a hei tiki design 180 degrees, does it look the same? Explain your answer.

5. Draw three koru shapes in a row, then show them translated (slid) to the right by the same distance. What do you notice about the pattern?

6. Draw a waka (canoe) in three different positions to show how it translates across water.

7. The koru is often used in pairs as mirror images. Draw a pair of koru that are reflections of each other.

8. Which transformations are commonly used in traditional Māori patterns? (Check all that apply)

Reflection (Whakaata)

Rotation (Hurihanga)

Translation (Nuku)

Symmetry (Ritenga)

9. Create your own symmetrical Māori pattern using triangles and diamonds. Show the line(s) of symmetry clearly.

10. Design a repeating border pattern using a Māori motif. Show how translation is used to create the pattern.

11. Describe how understanding transformations helps us appreciate traditional Māori art and design.