Water is the essence of all life, akin to the blood of Papatūānuku/Earth mother, who supports all people, plants and wildlife. Ōtautahi/Christchurch was once connected by spring-fed waterways formed by the Waimakariri River and its many underground aquifers.
Ko te wai te mauri o te ora, anō nei ko te toto o Papatūānuku, māna ngā tāngata, ngā tupu me ngā kararehe katoa e tauwhiro. I ngā wā o mua, i honohono a Ōtautahi mā ngā arawai māori nō te Waimakariri me ōna puna manawa whenua.
