Māori Studies

Kaipara College Māori Faculty

Te Ao Haka, Te Ao Maori, Te Reo Maori 

Ko te reo te taikura o te whakaao mārama

Language is the key to understanding

-Te Wharehuia Milroy

Te reo Māori is the key to understanding Te Ao Māori. Te Reo Māori lays the foundation of communicative skills and cultural knowledge to enable students to be bilingual and bicultural with an appreciation and consideration of a Māori worldview.

In line with the government’s commitment to ensure that all New Zealanders have an opportunity to learn and speak te reo Māori as expressed in the Maihi Karauna, “Audacious Goal 2: By 2040, one million New Zealanders (or more) will have the ability and confidence to talk about at least basic things in te reo Māori", there is a strong emphasis on the acquisition and improvement of oral language competence in Te Reo Māori as a subject area.

Te Reo Māori is taught to a highly diverse group of students, in many different contexts, including Māori students who are taking the opportunity to reclaim their heritage language and culture and non-Māori beginning their journey into the Māori world that will strengthen the bicultural and bilingual fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Te Ao Haka is a culturally responsive art form, providing opportunities for all ākonga to engage in Māori culture, language and traditional practice. Te Ao Haka is founded on traditional knowledge, but is progressive in the development and evolution of the art form.

Intrinsic to Te Ao Haka are culture, language and identity. Te Ao Haka is a vehicle used to wānanga and communicate culture, tikanga, knowledge systems and iwi traditions. Te Ao Haka is enabling and centres around the importance of family, marae, iwi, hapū and waka through connection with the past, present and future. This belonging gives ākonga a purpose to strive towards and achieve to their full potential, including empowering them to have fun and enjoy the performing arts.

Ākonga who engage with Te Ao Haka recognise that pride in their culture also comes with a responsibility to create a positive space for others to continue expressing themselves in developing their craft. Therefore, ākonga are able to understand their contributions to the art form.

ncea.education.govt.nz/