Finding a deeper sense of self through te ao Māori
Moving to Aotearoa from rural Australia as a teenager, Lily Warring found herself wanting to learn more about the culture and language of the place she now called home.
Wanting to strengthen her knowledge of te reo Māori, Lily enrolled to study at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
“By the time I moved to Aotearoa, I missed the primary school foundations of te reo Māori. I only knew ‘kia ora’ and ‘ka pai’ and that was about it, so study was well overdue.”
Since becoming a tauira at the Dunedin campus, Te Puka Whakauka, in 2024, Lily says what she values most about her experience at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is the sense of community.
“What I love most, and what I’ll tell anyone who listens, is the sense of community that comes with being part of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. ‘He waka eke noa’ is one of the first learning principles you are taught, and it's deeply embodied in every class I have been part of.”
Lily’s passion for learning about te ao Māori also extends to toi Māori. After completing her Level 2 reo Māori studies, Lily enrolled in Toi Maruata, Toi Ataata.
“I chose to study toi Māori because I’ve always been curious about the deeper narratives behind the tohu, and the significance behind something that at surface level can feel so simple.”
As a visual designer, Lily says her studies have also given her a deeper understanding of the cultural narratives and symbolism behind toi Māori.
“As an artist myself, I think what makes someone a good artist is having the hunger to learn. Ko mahi, ko kai, ko noho, ko iri.”
Currently studying reo Māori levels 3 and 4, Lily says the greatest impact of her studies has been something much more personal.
“Even though I have learnt a lot of kupu and kōwhaiwhai, what I have gained is a greater understanding of myself and how I navigate the world.”
Through her learning, Lily has also discovered that her personal beliefs and the way she leads align closely with te ao Māori.
“I have lived in many places with no real connection to any whenua. What I didn't realise before this journey was that my personal belief system very much aligns with te ao Māori.”
Alongside the knowledge and self-discovery she gained through her studies, Lily says the support she received while studying was just as valuable as the learning itself.
“I often hear from others that they’re too nervous or don’t think they couldn’t keep up, but there is no judgement at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, there's only support.”
Ready to start your own learning journey? Explore our reo Māori programmes and toi ataata programmes.
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