Te Ao Māori Concepts — Word Search
Ko ngā kupu, ko ngā hononga — Words Are Relationships
Ngā Whāinga Akoranga · Learning Intentions
- Recognise key te ao Māori concepts and their te reo Māori names
- Understand that these are relational concepts, not just vocabulary words
- Begin to explore what these concepts mean in lived experience
Paearu Angitu · Success Criteria
- I can find all 15 words in the grid
- I can define at least 10 concepts in my own words
- I can give a real example of at least 5 concepts from my own life or experience
Hononga Marautanga · Curriculum Alignment
Students understand how cultural practices reflect and express people's customs, values, and beliefs. They understand how identity is shaped by cultural heritage, language, and whakapapa.
Unit 1 introduces the conceptual foundation of the whole curriculum. These 15 kupu are not isolated vocabulary items — they are the relational framework through which te ao Māori makes sense of the world. Learning them builds the lens for all subsequent units.
Rapurapu Kupu · Word Search
Find all 15 words. Words run horizontally (left to right) or vertically (top to bottom).
| A | R | O | H | A | M | A | N | A | K | B | T | I | K | P |
| M | A | N | A | A | K | I | T | A | N | G | A | Q | A | V |
| K | A | I | T | I | A | K | I | T | A | N | G | A | N | G |
| W | H | A | N | A | U | N | G | A | T | A | N | G | A | X |
| W | H | A | K | A | P | A | P | A | Z | R | Q | M | V | P |
| T | I | K | A | N | G | A | B | K | N | O | A | Q | S | Y |
| M | A | U | R | I | Z | T | A | P | U | X | G | R | V | W |
| T | A | P | U | Q | N | O | A | H | A | U | O | R | A | K |
| N | O | A | P | M | A | N | A | X | T | Z | Q | B | G | V |
| M | A | N | A | K | A | I | T | I | A | K | I | P | Q | X |
| A | T | U | A | Z | T | A | N | G | A | T | A | W | H | E |
| T | A | N | G | A | T | A | W | H | E | N | U | A | N | U |
| R | A | N | G | A | T | I | R | A | T | A | N | G | A | Y |
| K | A | I | T | I | A | K | I | Z | V | X | B | Q | R | S |
| H | A | U | O | R | A | K | M | N | B | P | G | T | V | Z |
Word bank (15 words to find):
AROHA • MANAAKITANGA • KAITIAKITANGA • WHANAUNGATANGA • WHAKAPAPA • TIKANGA • MAURI • TAPU • NOA • MANA • ATUA • TANGATAWHENUA • RANGATIRATANGA • KAITIAKI • HAUORA
Tautuhia, Whakaahuatia · Define and Give an Example
After finding each word, define it in your own words and give one real example you have seen or experienced. Complete at least 10.
| Kupu | My definition in my own words | A real example I have seen or experienced |
|---|---|---|
| Aroha | ||
| Manaakitanga | ||
| Kaitiakitanga | ||
| Whanaungatanga | ||
| Whakapapa | ||
| Tikanga | ||
| Mauri | ||
| Tapu | ||
| Mana | ||
| Hauora |
Whakaaro Hōhonu · Reflection
Which concept do you already know from your own life — not from a book? Describe a time you experienced it.
Aronga Mātauranga Māori
These are not just vocabulary words — they are relational concepts. Whanaungatanga (relationships) cannot be understood without experiencing it. You do not learn whanaungatanga by reading its definition. You learn it by sitting in a room with people who have arrived from different places, finding what you share, and recognising that shared connection as something real and alive.
How do we learn concepts like these in a way that honours their depth? The answer may not be a word search. It may be a conversation, a shared meal, a pōwhiri, a moment of care. As you work through this activity, ask: which of these concepts do I already know — not from a book, but from my own life? And which am I only beginning to meet?
Ngā Rauemi Tautoko · Support Materials
Resources already provided:
- Unit 1 concept overview card
- Te reo Māori pronunciation guide
- Concept definitions reference sheet (for checking, after you have tried your own)
Aronga Rerekē · Differentiated Pathways
Tīmata · Entry Level
Complete the word search and define at least 5 concepts. Use the reference sheet to check your definitions. Focus on words you have already heard.
Paerewa · On Level
Complete the word search, define at least 10 concepts in your own words, and give real examples for at least 5. Do not use the reference sheet until you have tried on your own.
Tūāpae · Extension
Choose 3 concepts from the list. Write a short paragraph for each explaining: (1) what the concept means in everyday terms, (2) how it shows up in te ao Māori practice, and (3) where you have seen or experienced something like it. Share with your class.
📋 Teacher Planning Snapshot
Ngā Whāinga Ako — Learning Intentions
Students will engage with this resource to deepen understanding of Te Ao Māori — exploring whakapapa, tikanga, and cultural identity as living systems that shape who we are in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Ngā Paearu Angitū — Success Criteria
- ✅ Students can explain key concepts from this resource using their own words.
- ✅ Students can connect tikanga Māori and whakapapa to real-world examples in Aotearoa.
Differentiation & Inclusion
Scaffold support: Provide sentence starters, visual glossaries, or graphic organisers to give entry-level access for students who need additional support. Offer extension tasks that deepen cultural inquiry — for example, exploring local hapū histories or interviewing a kaumātua.
ELL / ESOL: Pre-teach key kupu Māori (whakapapa, tikanga, mana, mauri) with bilingual glossaries where available. Allow students to respond in their home language as a bridge to English expression.
Inclusion: Use accessible formats — clear headings, adequate whitespace, chunked tasks. Neurodiverse learners benefit from structured choice in how they demonstrate understanding (oral, visual, written). Acknowledge that students may hold personal connections to the cultural content.
Mātauranga Māori lens: This unit centres Te Ao Māori as a living knowledge system. Whakapapa is not merely genealogy but a relational framework linking people, place, and time. Tikanga grounds behaviour in kaupapa Māori principles. Approach content with aroha and manaakitanga.
Prior knowledge: No specialist prior knowledge required for entry-level engagement. Best used after relevant lesson sequences, or as a standalone introduction to cultural identity.
Curriculum alignment
- Identity, Culture, and Organisation: Understand how cultural identity shapes participation in society — whakapapa, tikanga, and mana as foundations of Māori identity in Aotearoa New Zealand.