Brief Background to Creating a
WCL Māori Classification / Living
Room Scheme
The process:
Create a shelf classification / living room method of organisation that is organised using a Te Ao Māori
framework so that shelf co-location “makes sense”.
Build on existing foundations / frameworks rather than inventing something entirely new:
• Knowledge is from the atua, and other institutions and publications have used the atua to
organise knowledge and learning, particularly:
• He Pātaka Kupu (Māori language dictionary) uses principal and departmental atua in
defining all kupu in the dictionary.
• Ngā Ūpoko Tukutuku, the Māori Subject Headings, structures headings through relationships and
relatedness, including a list of top terms (terms that have the broadest coverage):
• Ao wairua
• Taiao
• Atua
• Taonga
• Hangatanga
• Tikanga
• Hauora
• Tikanga tuku iho
• Mahi toi
• Ture
• Mātauranga
• Tāngata
• Ohaoha
• Tāngata whenua
• Pakanga
• Tōrangapū
• Pāpāho
• Waka
• Pūtaiao
• Whakapapa
• Reo Māori
• Whakapono
• Whakaruruhau
• As Ngā Ūpoko Tukutuku headings flow from these hierarchically, applying the top terms to relevant
atua al ows us to assign resources across the framework.
Frequently used references:
He Pātaka Kupu – print (Wel ington, N.Z. : Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori/Māori Language Commission ;
Raupo / Penguin Group, 2008) and online at
He Pātaka Kupu (hepatakakupu.nz)
Ngā Ūpoko Tukutuku – online at
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku / Māori Subject Headings | National Library of New
Zealand (natlib.govt.nz)
Document Outline
