Tautoko turned transformation for Northland local
Northland local, Piri-Kapua Allen originally enrolled to study te reo Māori at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa to tautoko his mum on her journey, but it quickly became a transformative experience of his own.
It wasn’t long before he found himself immersed in the language and community, discovering his own passion for learning te reo Māori while reclaiming and strengthening his identity as a proud Māori.
“My mother had enrolled and gone to the first class on her own. I saw how excited she was and I wanted to tautoko my mum however I could. Now I’m on my own journey and I’m loving it.”
This wasn’t the first time the pair had studied te reo Māori together. They tried various local classes, but some were too advanced while others didn’t quite meet their needs.
They felt at home at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and the challenge of the learning was balanced out with the strong support they received from their kaiako.
“Our kaiako was awesome. She was kind, but she was also strict in terms of making sure we followed tikanga and correcting our kōrero. She made sure things were done right and I liked that.”
Piri-Kapua also highlighted the strong bonds formed among the tauira, which began during their He Pī ka Pao Level 1 & 2 journey and continued throughout their studies in He Pī ka Rere Level 3 & 4 last year.
“I noticed that a few tauira were struggling and instead of letting them give up we formed a study group to help each other. This was the best experience because it wasn’t just about learning but whakawhanaungatanga too,” he says.
The study group also used this time to craft their own korowai, with some proudly wearing them this year as they walked across the stage to graduate from He Pī ka Rere.
Studying te reo Māori in a safe and supportive learning environment allowed Piri-Kapua to thrive in his study and has given him the motivation and confidence to keep learning.
“I want to keep studying te reo and go all the way. My general interest in te ao Māori has skyrocketed. I have a better understanding of myself now, what I want in life and what I want my future to look like.”
Find out more about our te reo Māori (language) programmes.
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.