The water cycle (Te Hurihanga Wai) is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface. The same water has been cycling for billions of years — the water you drink today may once have been drunk by a dinosaur!
The sun heats water in oceans, rivers, and lakes. Water turns from liquid to invisible water vapor (gas).
Māori: Te koropupū — to bubble up
Plants release water vapor through their leaves. A big tree can release hundreds of liters per day!
Māori: Te pupuha — breathing out
Water vapor rises and cools. It condenses into tiny water droplets, forming clouds.
Māori: Te kapua — cloud formation
When clouds can't hold any more water, it falls as rain, snow, hail, or sleet.
Māori: Te ua — rain
Water collects in oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers, and underground aquifers.
Māori: Te kohinga wai
Water flows across land into streams and rivers, eventually reaching the ocean.
Māori: Te rere — to flow
Liquid → Gas
Gas → Liquid
Water falling from clouds
Underground water storage
Water below the surface
Area draining to a river
"The vital importance of water" — a principle that recognizes water has its own life force (mauri) and deserves protection. In te ao Māori, waterways are often considered tupuna (ancestors) and taonga (treasures).
The Whanganui River was the first river in the world to be granted legal personhood!
What happens? You should see evaporation, condensation on the bag, and "rain" dripping back down!
Draw your own water cycle diagram showing all the stages. Label each part with both English and te reo Māori words.
Explain why the water cycle is important: