Te Kahupapa o te Reo
Level 1 classroom
Huakina te tatau
Start your reo journey
Curious about why te reo Māori sounds the way it does? Explore the sounds, patterns, and tikanga that shape the language. See how words, rhythm and culture connect. There are four connected parts that bring the language to life:
Learn how reo Māori sounds and fits together
Use basic reo Māori in everyday situations
Recognise cultural expressions and tikanga that shape the language
Understand the value and significance of te reo Māori in Aotearoa today
Learn through examples and activities that bring the language to life. Feel confident to introduce yourself, recognise local expressions, and explore the stories behind words. You’ll gain understanding that helps you connect more deeply with the language and its people.
Designed for real-life contexts, this programme focuses on beginning your reo journey. Build a strong foundation for both the language and the culture before you move to higher levels of study.
He aha tāu ka whiwhi?
What you’ll gain from this programme
You’ll be able to:
Use and pronounce basic reo Māori in familiar, everyday situations
Describe key features of reo Māori grammar
Recognise and describe tikanga (Māori customs) in context
Explain the cultural and national significance of te reo Māori in Aotearoa
Mā te mahi ka ako
Learn by doing
You will get to:
Practice speaking te reo Māori with other tauira
Develop your listening skills to support real-world use of Māori words and phrases
Practice tikanga and cultural concepts in familiar contexts
Reflect on your personal reo journey
Research the history of te reo Māori in Aotearoa
Develop tools to work through uncertainty, discomfort, and fear caused by language trauma and past challenges with learning
Ngā ara e wātea ana
Where will this take me?
Keep studying:
Progress your studies with one of the following programmes:
At work:
This programme may support careers in these industries:
Language support assistant and administration
Education
Early Learning including Kōhanga Reo
Primary – rumaki syndicates, Kura Kaupapa Māori
Secondary – teacher aide, alternative education, neurodiversity support
Tourism and retail
Forward facing customer service and people engagement
Support to advisory roles
Health
Forward facing customer support/service and people engagement
Support to advisory roles
Support to cultural departments
Social Services
Kaiāwhina
Support to cultural and language advisors
Broadcasting
Support to cultural and language advisors
Forward facing people engagement support
Community involvement:
Support your community, whānau, hapū, or iwi with:
Whakapapa
Tikanga
Iwi, hapū, marae trustee
Papakāinga/reserves trustee
Kaitiaki taonga
Kaitiaki taiao
Kaikaranga/Kaikōrero
Kaikarakia
He meka
Quick facts
- Level 1 (Introductory)
- 20 Weeks
- NZ Certificate in Te Kahupapa o te Reo (Kaupae 1)
- No fees
- NZQA Accredited
- Beginner-friendly
- Marae experience
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:
Full-time
60 credits
20 weeks long (includes holiday breaks)
Classroom-based, with workshops 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
Two generations, one reo Māori journey
When Melody Francis (Ngāti Kahungunu) saw the positive impact that studying te reo Māori had on her mum, she decided to jump on the waka and begin the journey alongside her.
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.
A teacher’s path to understanding tikanga
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.
Leading by example and learning te reo Māori
Liisa Wharepapa’s (Te Whānau ā Apanui) journey with te reo Māori wasn’t something that happened overnight, it was a goal waiting to be pursued until the moment she felt ready to take that step.
Returning home and reclaiming te reo Māori
After many years away building his professional career, Logan Bertram (Whakatōhea), returned home to Ōpōtiki with a clear goal of reconnecting with his whakapapa and creating a better future for his young whānau.
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.
