Unit 8: Hauora Wairua - Holistic Wellbeing

Exploring Te Whare Tapa Whā framework for balanced physical, mental, social, and spiritual health

šŸŒ… Karakia, Mauri Check & Safety Reset (8 minutes)

šŸŽ„ Media Anchor

Video: The significance of Te Whare Tapa Whā - Sir Mason Durie

  • How does this lesson strengthen Taha Hinengaro alongside other wellbeing dimensions?
  • Which coping or support strategy will you practise this week and why?

"Kia mau ki te tokanga nui a Noho" – Hold fast to stability when storms rise.

  1. Karakia: Short karakia of gratitude for the strength in our whakapapa.
  2. Mauri spectrum check: Students quietly show where their mauri sits (cards/hand signal). Offer break space.
  3. Safety brief: Revisit protocol for escalating concerns; counsellor contact visible.

šŸŽÆ Learning Intentions / Ngā Whāinga Akoranga & Success Criteria

By the end of this lesson, ākonga will be able to:

  • Define resilience as a collective, cultural practice (not just individual grit).
  • Analyse scenarios to identify growth mindset vs fixed mindset responses.
  • Map their personal resilience supports using Te Whare Tapa Whā.
  • Commit to actions that strengthen protective factors and help-seeking pathways.

Success Criteria – Ākonga will demonstrate:

  • āœ“ Contributions in resilience story maps and discussions
  • āœ“ Completed Growth Mindset Reframe cards with culturally responsive language
  • āœ“ Resilience Weave Map showing people, practices, and routines across all pou
  • āœ“ Support Circle commitments with timelines and allies named

šŸ“‹ Kaiako Planning Snapshot / Teacher Planning Snapshot

Timing Overview

  • Karakia / Opening: 5 min
  • Activity 1 — Stories of Resilience: 12 min
  • Activity 2 — Growth Mindset Lab: 15 min
  • Activity 3 — Resilience Weave Studio: 18 min
  • Activity 4 — Support Circle Commitments: 10 min
  • Whakamutunga / Closure: 5 min
  • Total: ~65 min

Preparation Checklist

  • Prepare 3–4 resilience story cards (local/NZ examples including Māori and Pacific voices)
  • Print Resilience Weave Map templates
  • Prepare Support Circle commitment cards
  • This is a unit capstone — look for opportunities to celebrate progress across Lessons 1–9

Curriculum Alignment — Achievement Objectives

NZ Curriculum — Health & Physical Education, Level 4–5

  • Personal Health & Physical Development (A1): Students synthesise understanding of all four pou of Te Whare Tapa Whā to create a holistic resilience plan — Achievement Objective addressed as unit capstone across Activities 3 and 4
  • Relationships with Other People: Students identify and strengthen support networks and help-seeking skills — Achievement Objective addressed through Support Circle commitments

Key Competencies: Managing Self (resilience planning, goal-setting); Relating to Others (support networks, manaakitanga); Thinking (growth mindset, evaluating responses to adversity)

Inclusion & Accessibility Guidance

  • ESOL / ELL: Resilience story cards should include diverse cultural contexts. Allow students to draw on their own cultural resilience frameworks — these may differ meaningfully from Western psychological models.
  • ADHD / Neurodiverse: Growth mindset lab provides scaffolded card-based activity well-suited to diverse learning styles. Ensure cards are readable and uncluttered.
  • Accessibility: Resilience Weave Map can be completed verbally, drawn, or structured as a table — offer format choice. Ensure all materials are available in large print on request.
  • Pastoral: For students who have experienced significant adversity, frame resilience as collective and cultural — not personal character. Avoid "overcoming" language that implies challenges are individual failures.

Activity 1: Stories of Resilience (12 minutes)

Whakapapa Strengths Spotlight

Ako, pukapuka kōrero, discussion

Share a short pūrākau/video snippet (e.g., Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei reclaiming Bastion Point, Pasifika family resilience story). In groups, ākonga identify resilience behaviours across Te Whare Tapa Whā.

  • Use prompt cards: "What helped their hinengaro stay hopeful?" "Which whānau supports activated?"
  • Students record observations on the Resilience Weave Map (outer ring: community stories).
  • Invite groups to share one insight that surprised or inspired them.

Activity 2: Growth Mindset Lab (15 minutes)

Reframe wero (challenges) with mana-enhancing language

Station rotation + pair kōrero

Set up four scenario cards (academic setback, sport injury, friend conflict, cultural performance nerves). At each station:

  1. Read the fixed mindset statement (e.g., "Ka kore e taea e au te ako i tēnei").
  2. Use the Growth Mindset Reframe Card to create manaaki-rich responses ("Kua piki ake te wero, ka rapu tautoko au...").
  3. Note which support pou they would lean on and any tikanga guiding their approach.

Encourage bilingual reframes where possible. Collect exemplar sentences to display.

Activity 3: Resilience Weave Studio (18 minutes)

Map Your Protective Factors

Individual creation with kaiako conferencing
  1. Using the Resilience Weave Map, list personal strengths, routines, taonga, and people within each pou.
  2. Add outer ring supports (school services, community, online helplines) to show layered protection.
  3. Identify any pou that feels under-supported; brainstorm with a buddy or kaiako how to strengthen it.

Kaiako circulate to check for students flagging low resilience – connect them discreetly with support staff.

Activity 4: Support Circle Commitments (10 minutes)

Plan Real-World Actions

Individual planning + optional sharing
  1. Complete the Support Circle Commitment Sheet: name trusted adults/peers, specify how/when to connect, write one sentence of kaupapa for each.
  2. Set one short-term resilience goal (e.g., "Attend kapa haka practice twice this week"), include accountability partner and check-in date.
  3. Optional whaikōrero circle: volunteers share a commitment, classmates respond with "Ka taea!" encouragement.

Whakamutunga – Reflection & Manaaki (7 minutes)

Strengths Anchoring (3 minutes)

In journals, students complete: "When things get tough, I will remember…" and "The pou I will strengthen next is…"

Collective Closing (2 minutes)

Stand in a circle, share one kupu that symbolises resilience (e.g., "manawaroa", "lototō").

Support Reminder (2 minutes)

Re-list helplines, school supports, and signal that kaiako are available for follow-up kōrero.

šŸ  Homework / Extension

Required: Resilience Snapshot

Interview a whānau member about a time they overcame adversity. Note the supports they used and add them to your Resilience Weave Map.

Optional: Mentor Letter

Write (but don’t yet send) a letter/email to a mentor sharing your resilience commitment and asking for their encouragement or guidance.

🧰 Teacher Preparation & Notes

  • Resources: Print handouts, prepare story/video excerpts, set up mauri spectrum cards.
  • Pastoral coordination: Inform counsellors that resilience conversations may surface ongoing challenges; set up quick referral pathway.
  • Environment: Arrange whāriki or circles for story sharing; display whakataukÄ« about resilience.
  • Whānau link: Send optional take-home note summarising resilience tools covered, with helpline list.