Tikanga study boosts whānau presence on marae

Patrick and Donna Tobin (Ngāti Kahu) are a brother-and-sister duo studying tikanga alongside their wider whānau at Te Paatu Marae in Kaitaia, all working towards the betterment of their whānau, iwi, and marae.

Having studied Te Whāinga o te Ao Tikanga in 2025 and now studying, Te Kunenga o te Ao Tikanga, Patrick and Donna have witnessed meaningful transformation within their whānau, strengthening the cultural capability they can now offer when hui, wānanga or tangi take place at their marae.

“We’ve gone from having one or two people on the taumata to many. Our whānau have grown in confidence with tikanga and marae practices, it’s been wonderful to see so many now actively supporting a range of marae based kaupapa. Before, many of our whānau weren’t coming to the marae because they lacked confidence in tikanga. This programme has changed all of that,” says Donna.

A highlight of their shared learning experience has been the marae-based learning environment.

Rather than learning in a traditional classroom, the whānau gather for noho at their own marae, learning on their whenua, immersed in whakapapa, stories, and lived experience.

“We’re being taught on our marae which is a great point of difference. It’s whānau based and we’re in a comfortable space to talk, make mistakes and have a laugh while we learn. The manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga of our marae has had a huge lift,” says Patrick.

For Patrick, Donna and their wider whānau, the journey of learning tikanga is as much about the future as it is the present, ensuring that the next generation not only inherits mātauranga Māori, but confidence and pride in who they are and where they come from.

At the heart of this is a multi-generational learning environment, with tauira in their 30s through to kaumātua in their 70s, coming together to share their knowledge and collective support.

“We have a wide range of ages within the class. That diversity brings a richness to our learning that can't be found in a textbook. We learn alongside each other, we support each other and celebrate our achievements. Our class is full of so much wisdom and hearing the stories and experiences is inspiring,” says Donna.

Being in their late 50s, the brother-sister duo hasn’t let age be a barrier in their pursuit of learning and reconnecting with tikanga, embracing the journey and proving it’s never too late to strengthen their connection to whakapapa.

“Age is just a number, it’s never too late to start. We have matua in the class in their 70s and they keep up. They’ve shown me that it’s never too late, they’re enjoying the journey and they’re flourishing, and so am I,” says Patrick.

Learn more about our tikanga programmes.