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)

"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 the escalation protocol and make sure named support adults and spaces are visible.

šŸŽÆ Learning Intentions & 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

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 supports, and named wellbeing systems) 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 named school supports, trusted adults, and the agreed wellbeing pathway 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 an optional take-home note summarising the resilience tools covered and the agreed school support pathway if appropriate.

šŸ“ŗ Related Videos

šŸ“‹ Teacher Planning Snapshot

Ngā Whāinga Ako — Learning Intentions

Students will engage with this hauora resource to build holistic wellbeing knowledge, connecting te ao Māori perspectives on hauora with personal, social, and environmental dimensions of health.

Ngā Paearu AngitÅ« — Success Criteria

  • āœ… Students can explain key hauora concepts using their own words and personal examples.
  • āœ… Students can connect te ao Māori frameworks (e.g. Te Whare Tapa Whā) to real wellbeing contexts.

Differentiation & Inclusion

Scaffold support: Provide sentence starters, graphic organisers, and entry-level tasks to scaffold access. Offer extension challenges for capable learners to address a range of readiness levels.

ELL / ESOL: Pre-teach key vocabulary (hauora, wairua, tinana, hinengaro, whānau). Allow students to draw or respond in their home language as a first step.

Inclusion: Hauora topics can be sensitive — create a safe learning environment. Neurodiverse learners benefit from choice in how they demonstrate wellbeing understanding. Use accessible, non-threatening language.

Curriculum alignment

  • Health & Physical Education: Understand that wellbeing is a dynamic state determined by physical, social, mental/emotional, and spiritual dimensions of health.
  • Social Sciences: Understand how people participate individually and collectively to support community wellbeing.