Learning tikanga in the hopes of giving back to iwi
Through learning tikanga at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Walter Herewini hopes to give back to his marae and keep te ao Māori (the Māori worldview) alive and thriving.
Walter may be close to retirement age but he believes it’s never too late to step up, learn the tikanga of your marae and represent your iwi (tribe).
“I’ve been trying to upskill, so that when I retire from work I can be of some use to my iwi. I’ve been trying to help my iwi at home by learning tikanga and the tikanga for my marae and our history.”
Walter studied He Tikanga Whakaaro, NZ Certificate in Tikanga (Mātauranga Māori) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa campus in Ōpōtiki and says that the support he received was exactly what he needed to grow in confidence and achieve in his studies.
It is Walter’s hope, that through the teaching and guidance of his kaiako (teacher), Ripeka Mihaere, he will now be able to confidently represent and speak for his whānau and his iwi both on the marae and off.
“This programme has given me confidence when I’m at the marae and now I can stand for my family and if needed, my hapū (subtribe) and iwi. Celebrating birthdays, at tangi (funerals) and meetings at work.”
Whether you are Māori or not, Walter encourages others to learn tikanga and the history of marae around them.
He also challenges fellow Māori to stand up and give back and support their iwi by not only learning tikanga but learning to whaikōrero (formal speech) or kaikaranga (caller) as well.
“Iwi all over the country are running short of those who can whaikōrero and kaikaranga. If we don’t stick our hands up now, then there will be nobody else.”
The tikanga programme at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa was the perfect start for Walter and his fellow classmates to learn whaikōrero and kaikaranga.
“It’s only us, there’s nobody else. You have got to stand up and that’s what this programme helps you do. It gives you the confidence to at least try. We are allowed to make mistakes when we are studying, but we learn from them.”
Pūrongo whakahirahira
Featured stories
Turning point inspires commitment to change, community, and career
In 2024, Bryce Marsh faced a major turning point in life that led to him studying Manaaki Tangata at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, setting him on a path of healing, self-discovery and a desire to give back to his community.
A whānau journey of learning at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Studying at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa wasn’t just a personal journey for Tania Dargaville (Te Rarawa). It became a whānau journey, shared alongside her sister and son, learning, growing and now graduating together.
Creating second chances for rangatahi
Kaimahi working in Youth Engagement Services at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa play a vital role in empowering rangatahi to discover who they are, build practical skills, and shape futures that feel right for them.
Wānanga study supports career shift into social services
When COVID-19 hit, it changed the direction of Dee Clark’s life. At the time, she was working in airport security as a behavior analyst, but the impacts of COVID-19 caused her role to change and so did her sense of purpose.
Strengthening Indigenous‑led global partnerships
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Te Māori Manaaki Taonga Trust to host delegation from Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford Delegation and formalise Māori Curatorial Partnership
Upholding reo Māori beyond kura kaupapa
At 18 years old, Te Tatau Strother walked into his first Te Pīnakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi class at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa feeling like the youngest voice in a room full of experienced reo Māori speakers.
Weaving a shared journey of growth
What began as an opportunity to learn something new for Riri (Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngā Rauru Kītahi, Pākehā) and Rich Rio (Kuki Airani, Ngāti Maniapoto) grew into a journey of confidence, deeper connection to te ao Māori, and a shared sense of purpose as husband and wife.
Cambridge Museum project guided by wānanga tikanga studies
Cambridge Museum manager, Elizabeth Harvey, is combining her tikanga studies at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa with her passion for local history, to support the museum’s Voices of Cambridge project.
Wānanga launches first of their kind mātauranga Māori certificates, marking a new era for Indigenous knowledge education
Responding to the growing needs and aspirations of tauira, iwi and communities, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is breaking new ground with the launch of 2 new Level 4 certificates that will be the first standalone programmes of their kind in Aotearoa.
Learning tikanga to strengthen community work
After making the move to Aotearoa in 2014 from Germany, Almaz Bergz set out to gain a better understanding of the people, whenua, and culture that shape life here.
Thriving as a kaiako after He Korowai Ākonga
When Marlena Martin began her studies in He Korowai Ākonga – Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) in 2023, she never imagined where it would take her and how much she would grow as an individual.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa launches new international reo Māori learning
iReo is a flexible, self-directed, online short course made up of 5 standalone modules, each running over 6 weeks. Learners can study at their own pace, weaving te reo Māori into everyday life alongside work, whānau, and other commitments.