Skip Content
Lauren Te Tai

A Te Wānanga o Aotearoa te reo Māori programme has proved itself so popular that it is struggling to keep pace with demand.

Papa Reo, the level 1 Home Based Learning te reo Māori programme has waiting lists stretching to late 2019 in some parts of New Zealand.

A recent Radio New Zealand story stated that a reo Māori beginners course (Papa Reo) in Wellington was full with the next intakes not available until September 2019.

The long waiting list is partly due to the programme’s own success but largely because of the Tertiary Education Commission’s Level 1 and 2 competitive process that determines the volume of enrolments Te Wānanga o Aotearoa can accept.

Lauren Te Tai, programme development and manager for Papa Reo, said the home delivery model was an opportunity to get te reo Māori into the home.

“When we decided to go down the home-based delivery model it was aimed to give people the option of learning te reo Māori in their homes but also to build confidence within their own environment and share with their whānau so everybody was learning together.”

Tauira on the 60-credit, 12 month-long programme that was launched last April receive four kete via the mail through the year.

Through books, CDs and games, tauira learn basic te reo Māori including pronunciation, placenames, simple mihi, basic conversations, pepeha and kupu hou.

Lauren said the programme was a pathway for tauira to continue to Te Ara Reo Māori Level 2 and other te reo Māori programmes within Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

“It’s really about building confidence. We are getting a lot of phone calls from home school parents who want to enrol their children.”

“We are unable to because of the age criteria but we have suggested parents enrol on the programme and they can do the programme together.”

Lauren said the first cohort of Papa Reo tauira have completed their studies and she is looking forward to receiving their feedback about the programme.

 Back to news & events

Published On:

Article By:



Other Articles

  • 08 October 2025

    From paddling to politics: a journey for reo, rights and representation

    Bevan O’Connor’s journey from waka ama to the political stage is powered by his passion for te reo Māori and Māori rights. Discover how his studies at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and deep connection to te ao Māori are shaping his campaign for the Takitimu Māori Ward.

  • 23 September 2025

    HRC Maternal Health Inequity Report

    New research led by Dr Sarah Lockwood highlights critical gaps in maternity care during Cyclone Gabrielle, urging the Government to include midwifery and Māori leadership in emergency planning. The report calls for equity-focused reforms to protect pregnant women and whānau in climate crises.

  • 18 September 2025

    From Wānanga baby to Wānanga tauira

    Ripekka Matthews’ lifelong connection to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa began as a child and continues today through her te reo Māori studies. Discover how her journey from wānanga baby to tauira reflects whānau legacy, cultural identity, and the transformative power of education.

  • 05 September 2025

    Cooking up confidence in te reo Māori

    Āku Hapa! is a reo Māori cooking show created by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa tauira, blending kai, kōrero, and comedy. Streaming on Māori+, this series celebrates learning te reo through laughter, mistakes, and whānau connection - one delicious dish at a time.