Whanaungatanga
Whakataukī | Proverb
"He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata"
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people
Whanaungatanga reminds us that relationships are the foundation of all learning. Before content, before curriculum, we must build connections with students, whānau, and each other.
Definition
Māori concept emphasizing the importance of relationships, connections, and kinship. In education, it means building strong, respectful relationships between teachers, students, and whānau. It is the foundation for all learning.
Research Evidence
Bishop et al.'s Te Kotahitanga research (2009) identified relationships as the key to Māori student success. The research demonstrated that when teachers build strong relationships with Māori students, achievement improves significantly.
Hattie's Visible Learning research also shows that teacher-student relationships have an effect size of d=0.72, making them one of the highest-impact factors in education.
In Education
Building genuine connections with students, knowing who they are, where they come from, and what matters to them.
Creating classroom communities where students support and learn from each other.
Building partnerships with families and communities, recognizing that learning happens in relationship with whānau.
Connecting students to their cultural identity, iwi, and community, recognizing that identity is foundational to learning.
How We Apply This in Te Kete Ako
Whanaungatanga is not just a concept we reference - it is how we approach every resource. We:
- Design activities that build relationships first
- Create opportunities for peer connection and collaboration
- Include whānau engagement strategies in every resource
- Honor students' cultural identities and connections
- Recognize that learning happens through relationships
- Prioritize connection before content
Every resource in Te Kete Ako begins with relationship-building, recognizing that students learn best when they feel connected, valued, and understood.
Application Examples
- Getting to know students activities
- Building classroom community
- Whānau engagement events
- Peer relationship building
- Cultural identity activities
- Community connections