He Pī Ka Pao
Te Ara Reo Māori
Join a classroom where you can practice te reo with others who share your passion.
Tirohanga whānui
Māori language classes for beginners
If you want to learn some basic Māori language, this is the perfect place to start. Whether you want to use te reo Māori at home with the kids or in the workplace, this interactive programme will have you speaking with confidence in no time.
You’ll start with:
How to correctly pronounce Māori words, names and place names
Basic greetings and how to introduce yourself
How to understand and follow tikanga (protocols)
Te Ara Reo Māori has become a part of the educational landscape of Aotearoa. Past graduates have been newsreaders, public figures, teachers, school principals and business people - many who have advanced to higher levels of study in te reo Māori.
He aha tāu ka whiwhi?
Skills you'll leave with
Completing this programme means you’ll be able to:
Use te reo Māori words and simple sentences with confidence
Introduce yourself and your whānau in both formal and informal settings
Talk about numbers, colours, days, months, seasons, and dates
Follow and give simple instructions
Engage in basic conversations about travel, holidays, marae life, and people
Appreciate te reo Māori as part of your daily life and community connections
Mō te mahi ka ako
Learn by doing
You will get to:
Use everyday greetings and farewells; introduce yourself simply
Ask and answer basic questions (how you are, where you’re from)
Build starter vocabulary (numbers, days, common objects)
Hold short exchanges beyond greetings (likes, location, simple needs)
Talk about daily routines and common activities
Give and follow short instructions with more detail (places, objects)
Use numbers, dates, time, and money in simple tasks
Share a short mihi/pepeha
Ngā ara e wātea ana
Where will this take me?
By the end, you'll be able to:
Keep studying
Continue on to Te Ara Reo Māori Level 3 and 4 programmes or explore tikanga-based study.
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
Contribute to your marae and community by supporting kaupapa and encouraging reo use at home.
He meka
Quick facts
- Levels 1 & 2 (Introductory)
- 120 Credits
- 38 Weeks
- NZ Certificate in Te Reo (Reo Rua) Level 1 & NZ Certificate in Te Reo (Reo Rua) Level 2
- No fees
- NZQA Accredited
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
Have little or no knowledge of te reo Māori
Attend an information session with a kaiako
Te wā
Time commitment
This programme is:
Full-time
120 credits
38 weeks long
Classroom-based, with wānanga and noho marae
Kōnae ako
Learning modules
Ki hea, mō āhea hoki au ako ai?
Where and when can I learn?
No classes are currently open for application.
Kaupapa anamata
Upcoming events
Pitopito kōrero o te wā
Latest news
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Originally from South Africa, Franda Zondagh has called Aotearoa home since 2003, but it was through studying He Papa Tikanga with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa that she began to feel a deeper connection to the place she lives and people she serves in her mahi.
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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.
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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.
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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.
