Tirohanga whānui
Programme overview
This beginner-level programme is ideal for learners with little or no te reo Māori. You’ll learn how to:
Use basic greetings and everyday phrases
Introduce yourself with confidence
Talk about your whānau and home
Have simple conversations
Study at your own pace with no set class times. Learning resources will be sent to you, and a dedicated kaitiaki will guide your progress along the way. Build your confidence step by step and begin using te reo Māori in everyday life.
Nau mai, haere mai.
He aha tāu ka whiwhi?
Skills you'll leave with
Completing this programme means you’ll be able to:
Use basic te reo Māori vocabulary and grammar
Talk about yourself and your connection to the land
Apply reo in everyday situations
Build respect and understanding of te reo Māori
Mā te mahi ka ako
Learn by doing
You will get to practice:
Every day reo Māori greetings and farewells
Pronounciation of Māori words
Basic instructions around the home
Teaching a new phrase to someone in your whānau
Time, dates, days of the week and seasons
Ngā ara e wātea ana
Pathways
By the end, you'll be able to:
Keep studying
Step up to Te Ara Reo Māori Level 2 or our introduction to Māori tikanga (practices) programme.
Use at work
A foundation in te reo Māori adds value to roles across the public and private sectors, helping you connect with people and communities.
Community involvement
Use your new skills at home, at work, and in everyday life to support whānau and hapū, and help keep the language alive.
He meka
Quick facts
- Level 1 (Introductory)
- 60 Credits
- 52 Weeks
- Te Pōkaitahi Reo (Reo Rua) (Te Kaupae 1)
- No fees
- NZQA Accredited
- Home-based learning
Paearu whakauru
Entry criteria
You can enrol if you:
Are 16 years or older
Are a NZ citizen or resident (includes Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau) or Australian citizen/permanent resident
Currently reside in New Zealand
Te wā
Time commitment
This programme is:
Part-time
60 credits
52 weeks long
Home-based learning
Kōnae ako
Learning modules
Our study at home programmes have different start dates in each region, depending on current demand. Programmes fill quickly and your start date might be several months after you complete your enrolment. Once we receive your enrolment, we’ll send you a letter confirming your start date. Please make sure you have provided everything for a complete enrolment.
Ki hea, mō āhea hoki au ako ai?
Where and when can I learn?
Home-based learning
Kaupapa anamata
Upcoming events
He Puāwaitanga Whirikoka 2026
Graduation Ceremony, Gisborne
Te Ao Māori Foundation Workshop
Te Ao Māori Foundation Workshop, Dunedin
Harakeke & Weave
Harakeke & Weave, Heretaunga
Harakeke & Weave
Harakeke & Weave, Ōtautahi
He Puāwaitanga Ōpōtiki 2026
Graduation Ceremony, Ōpōtiki
Te Ao Māori Foundation Workshop
Te Ao Māori Foundation Workshop, Dunedin
Kōwhaiwhai & Paint
Kōwhaiwhai & Paint, Heretaunga
Pitopito kōrero o te wā
Latest news
A teaching journey shaped by whānau
The journey to becoming a teacher was not a straight line for Nimai Fraser‑Eccleston, it was shaped by whānau, lived experience and his desire to create a meaningful life for his tamariki.
Governance grounded in te ao Māori
When the opportunity came up to study Manu Taiko, New Zealand Certificate in Māori Governance, at the Ngāmotu (New Plymouth) campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Paora Rauputu didn’t hesitate to enrol.
Flexible study supports Cromwell business owner
Based in Cromwell, Sam Taylor needed flexibility to balance work, study and build his business, and found exactly that through the online Certificate in Small Business at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
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.