📖 Unit Overview
Unit 1: Te Ao Māori - Cultural Identity & Knowledge Systems
A comprehensive 6-8 lesson journey exploring Māori worldviews, values, and knowledge systems as the foundation for all learning. This unit establishes cultural identity and understanding of Te Ao Māori as a valid and essential knowledge system.
📋 Kaiako Planning Snapshot
Ngā Whāinga Akoranga — Learning Intentions
- Ākonga will understand Te Ao Māori as a complete and valid worldview encompassing whakapapa, tikanga, and mātauranga.
- Ākonga will explore the concept of cultural identity and how it shapes perspectives, values, and relationships.
- Ākonga will connect Māori knowledge systems to contemporary life, society, and their own sense of belonging.
- Ākonga will engage respectfully with te reo Māori as a taonga and essential part of Aotearoa's identity.
Paearu Angitu — Success Criteria
- I can explain at least three core concepts from Te Ao Māori (e.g., whakapapa, manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga).
- I can describe how Māori worldviews differ from and complement Western knowledge systems.
- I can reflect on how my own cultural identity shapes my learning and relationships.
- I can engage respectfully in activities grounded in tikanga Māori.
Entry / On-Level / Extension
- Entry: Guided vocabulary scaffolds for key Māori concepts; visual mind-maps of Te Whare Tapa Whā; sentence starters for reflection tasks.
- On-level: Structured inquiry into a chosen concept (whakapapa, tikanga, hauora); comparative text analysis; creative whakataukī response.
- Extension: Independent research into a specific Māori knowledge system; critical analysis of how mātauranga Māori is represented in mainstream media.
Inclusion Guidance
- ESOL / ELL learners: Bilingual glossaries for Māori kupu. Use visual representations (e.g., Te Whare Tapa Whā diagram). Allow whānau connection as an entry point.
- Neurodiverse learners / ADHD: Chunked tasks with clear outcomes. UDL principle: provide multiple means of expression (drawing, oral, written). Sensory grounding through karakia openings.
- Dyslexia: Audio versions of key texts; visual concept maps; highlight-and-annotate rather than full written responses.
📋 NZC Curriculum Alignment
This unit addresses achievement objectives across multiple learning areas of the New Zealand Curriculum.
Social Studies / Tikanga-ā-Iwi
Understand how the ways in which leadership of groups is acquired and exercised have consequences for communities and societies.
Understand how cultural practices vary but reflect similar purposes.
Te Reo Māori
Communicate information, experiences, and ideas for a range of purposes in familiar contexts.
Demonstrate understanding of the significance of te reo Māori to Māori culture and identity.
The Arts / Ngā Toi
Explore and describe the influences of people, places, and times on the making and use of art works.
Key Competencies / Ngā Pūkenga Matua
🤔 Thinking
Students reflect on their own identity and cultural positioning, developing awareness of diverse worldviews and knowledge systems.
🤝 Relating to Others
Whakapapa and whānau connections emphasise relationships, collective identity, and responsibility to others.
🌱 Participating & Contributing
Community engagement with kaumātua, participation in cultural practices, and contributing to collective learning.
🗣️ Using Language, Symbols & Texts
Te Reo Māori language acquisition, understanding of cultural symbols, and interpretation of traditional and contemporary texts.
Te Ao Māori — Cultural Identity & Knowledge Systems
Tūāhuatanga Akoranga Pedagogical Foundations
The values and concepts in this unit — whakapapa, manaakitanga, mātauranga, tino rangatiratanga — have been theorised by scholars who were themselves embedded in te ao Māori. These theorists give the unit its intellectual architecture. When students ask why these things matter, these are the people who have answered that question in writing.
He Taonga - Our Cultural Foundation
Te Ao Māori is not just a subject we study - it is the lens through which we understand ourselves, our relationships, and our place in the world. This unit establishes the cultural foundation that will enrich all learning across every subject at Mangakōtukutuku College.
"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, people, people.
Unit Overview & Learning Vision
Duration & Structure
- Time: 6-8 lessons (adaptable to school terms)
- Year Levels: 7-10 (differentiated activities)
- Frequency: 4-5 lessons per week
- Integration: Connects to all subject areas
Learning Vision
- Develop strong cultural identity and pride
- Understand mātauranga Māori as valid knowledge system
- Connect traditional wisdom to contemporary life
- Build foundation for lifelong cultural learning
Lessons 1-2: Whakapapa & Personal Identity
"Ko wai au? Ko wai koe?" - Who am I? Who are you?
Learning Focus
Students explore the concept of whakapapa (genealogical connections) as the foundation of identity in Te Ao Māori. They investigate their own connections - to whānau, to place, to knowledge traditions - and understand how these relationships shape who we are.
Key Concepts
- Whakapapa: Genealogical connections and relationships
- Whakatōhea: Collective identity and belonging
- Mauri: Life force and spiritual essence
- Whakatōhea: Collective responsibility
Learning Activities
- Personal whakapapa exploration project
- Te Reo Māori greetings and introductions
- Traditional Māori names and their meanings
- Community connections mapping
Authentic Assessment
Personal Identity Portfolio: Students create a multimedia presentation about their whakapapa connections, including family/whānau interviews, place-based research, and reflection on how these connections influence their learning and goals.
Lessons 3-4: Cultural Expression & Traditions
"Toku reo, toku ohooho, toku reo, toku mapihi mauri" - My language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul
Learning Focus
Students engage with traditional and contemporary forms of Māori cultural expression, understanding how arts, language, and performance carry deep meaning and connect us to our ancestors and each other.
Traditional Arts Focus
- Haka: Powerful expression and cultural resistance
- Waiata: Song traditions and storytelling
- Carving & Weaving: Traditional craft knowledge
- Ta Moko: Traditional and contemporary significance
Learning Experiences
- Haka analysis and performance (using existing handout)
- Contemporary Māori artists research project
- Traditional craft workshops with community
- Waiata creation and performance
Cross-Curricular Connections
Lessons 5-6: Te Tiriti & Historical Experiences
"He whakatōhea tātou katoa" - We are all in this together
Learning Focus
Students explore Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a living document and examine both historical and contemporary Māori experiences, understanding how the past shapes present opportunities and challenges.
Historical Understanding
- Te Tiriti Partnership: Original intent and ongoing significance
- Māori Agency: Leadership and resistance through time
- Urban Migration: 20th century experiences like Dawn Raids
- Cultural Survival: How traditions were maintained
Contemporary Connections
- Current Treaty settlement processes
- Contemporary Māori leadership in politics, business, arts
- Modern expressions of tino rangatiratanga
- Youth activism and cultural pride movements
Resources Integration
This section utilises and enhances existing handouts: Treaty analysis and Dawn Raids impact , while creating new contemporary leadership profiles and community connection projects.
Lessons 7-8: Mātauranga Māori in Action
"Mā te huruhuru ka rere ai te manu" - Adorn the bird with feathers so it can fly
Learning Focus
Students explore how traditional Māori knowledge (mātauranga Māori) applies to contemporary challenges and opportunities, understanding its relevance in science, technology, environmental management, and community development.
Traditional Knowledge Applications
- Kaitiakitanga: Environmental guardianship and sustainability
- Rongoā: Traditional medicine and holistic health
- Astronomy: Traditional navigation and star knowledge
- Agriculture: Traditional growing and land management
Contemporary Integration
- Māori entrepreneurs and business innovation
- Environmental science and climate change responses
- Technology development with cultural protocols
- Community development and social innovation
Capstone Project
Community Action Initiative: Student groups identify a real issue in their community and develop a solution that integrates mātauranga Māori with contemporary approaches. Projects are presented to community members, whānau, and local leaders.
Aromatawai - Assessment & Evaluation
Authentic Assessment Approaches
- Portfolio Development: Personal learning journey documentation
- Community Presentations: Sharing learning with whānau and local groups
- Peer Teaching: Students teaching younger learners
- Cultural Protocols: Demonstrating appropriate cultural practices
- Action Projects: Real-world application of learning
Success Indicators
- Cultural Pride: Increased confidence in Māori identity
- Knowledge Integration: Connecting mātauranga across subjects
- Community Connection: Engaging with local cultural networks
- Critical Thinking: Analysing contemporary issues through cultural lens
- Leadership: Taking initiative in cultural learning spaces
Whakamutunga - Unit Reflection
This unit establishes Te Ao Māori as the foundation for all learning at Mangakōtukutuku College. Students complete this journey with a strong sense of cultural identity, deep appreciation for mātauranga Māori, and clear understanding of how traditional knowledge enriches contemporary learning and life.
"Mā te huruhuru ka rere ai te manu" - With cultural knowledge as our feathers, our students can soar.
🔗 Unit Progression & Next Steps
The unit begins with the self and widens to Te Tiriti and living tradition:
- 📖 Lesson 1: Ko Wai Au? — Explore identity and pepeha as a foundation for belonging, whakapapa, and whanaungatanga.
- 📖 Lesson 2: Mātauranga Māori — Traditional Knowledge Systems — Investigate what traditional knowledge offers alongside Western systems.
- 📖 Lesson 3: Haka & Cultural Expression — Examine haka as living transmission of values, history, and identity.
- 📖 Lesson 4: Te Tiriti o Waitangi — Analyse Te Tiriti and use it as evidence on partnership and historical agency.
- 📖 Lesson 5: Traditional Arts & Storytelling — Explore how arts and pūrākau carry mātauranga across generations.
The unit builds toward respectful, evidence-based engagement with te ao Māori that students carry into every subject.
📋 Teacher Planning Snapshot
Ngā Paearu Angitū — Success Criteria
- ✅ I can explain at least three core concepts from Te Ao Māori (e.g., whakapapa, manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga).
- ✅ I can describe how Māori worldviews differ from and complement Western knowledge systems.
- ✅ I can reflect on how my own cultural identity shapes my learning and relationships.
- ✅ I can engage respectfully in activities grounded in tikanga Māori.
Differentiation & Inclusion
Entry-level learners: Provide a concept-and-example template and sentence starters; begin from the student's own pepeha, which they already hold.
ELL / ESOL: Pre-teach key kupu (whakapapa, manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga, tikanga) with visuals; allow home-language reflection before writing.
Accelerated learners: Compare a mātauranga Māori and a Western explanation of the same idea and evaluate what each reveals; research a contemporary application.
Neurodiverse / Inclusion: Offer choice in how cultural expression is engaged (perform, analyse, or design); keep tasks in predictable stages; allow quiet processing time before whole-class kōrero.
Pedagogical Foundations | Ngā Tūāpou Akoranga
Ao Māori is not a cultural supplement to a Western curriculum — it is a distinct epistemological framework with its own knowledge traditions, pedagogies, and relational ethics. Three researchers whose work shows why these principles cannot be reduced to cultural decoration.
→ Explore all theorists at Te Whare Ako — Teaching Theory