05 / WHERE CHANGE STARTS
HĀPORI
HĀPORI
HĀPORI
HĀPORI
A PLACE TO JUST BE MĀORI.
A PLACE TO JUST BE MĀORI.
A PLACE TO JUST BE MĀORI.
A PLACE TO JUST BE MĀORI.
In Whakatipu, our whānau spent five years working to bring kōhaka reo back to our community.
In Whakatipu, our whānau spent five years working to bring kōhaka reo back to our community.
Not just so our mokopuna could learn te reo Māori, but so they could grow up surrounded by it alongside our tikaka, mātauraka and whānau.
Not just so our mokopuna could learn te reo Māori, but so they could grow up surrounded by it alongside our tikaka, mātauraka and whānau.
THE JOURNEY
IT STARTED WITH A FEW WHĀNAU.
IT STARTED WITH A FEW WHĀNAU.
IT STARTED WITH A FEW WHĀNAU.
IT STARTED WITH A FEW WHĀNAU.
It began with a small Puna Reo, established by wāhine who wanted their tamariki to have more opportunities to learn te reo Māori and grow up connected to te ao Māori.
It began with a small Puna Reo, established by wāhine who wanted their tamariki to have more opportunities to learn te reo Māori and grow up connected to te ao Māori.
As more whānau came together, the ambition grew. We wanted to create a permanent place where mokopuna could learn, play and grow through te reo Māori, tikaka and mātauraka Māori.
As more whānau came together, the ambition grew. We wanted to create a permanent place where mokopuna could learn, play and grow through te reo Māori, tikaka and mātauraka Māori.
There had been a kōhanga reo in Tāhuna during the 1980s, but it had closed decades earlier. We wanted to bring that opportunity back to our community.
There had been a kōhanga reo in Tāhuna during the 1980s, but it had closed decades earlier. We wanted to bring that opportunity back to our community.
It took five years of hui, planning, fundraising, working bees, persistence and plenty of collective problem-solving to make it happen.
It took five years of hui, planning, fundraising, working bees, persistence and plenty of collective problem-solving to make it happen.
A core group of approximately six whānau helped drive this kaupapa over five years, with support from many other whānau, organisations and volunteers from our hāpori Māori.
A core group of approximately six whānau helped drive this kaupapa over five years, with support from many other whānau, organisations and volunteers from our hāpori Māori.
FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING.
FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING.
FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING.
FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING.
A major turning point came when Te Kura o Kā-Muriwai (Arrowtown Primary) made two unused classrooms available. Finally, we had a place we could call home.
A major turning point came when Te Kura o Kā-Muriwai (Arrowtown Primary) made two unused classrooms available. Finally, we had a place we could call home.
AUGUST 2026
FIVE YEARS.
COUNTLESS WHĀNAU.
ONE KŌHAKA.
FIVE YEARS.
COUNTLESS WHĀNAU.
ONE KŌHAKA.
FIVE YEARS.
COUNTLESS WHĀNAU.
ONE KŌHAKA.
FIVE YEARS.
COUNTLESS WHĀNAU.
ONE KŌHAKA.
In August 2026, around 150 people gathered to celebrate the opening of Te Kōhaka Reo o Whakatipu Waimāori.
In August 2026, around 150 people gathered to celebrate the opening of Te Kōhaka Reo o Whakatipu Waimāori.
Whānau came from across Aotearoa. The pōwhiri, karaka, whaikōrero, karakia, kai and manaakitaka brought the kaupapa to life.
Whānau came from across Aotearoa. The pōwhiri, karaka, whaikōrero, karakia, kai and manaakitaka brought the kaupapa to life.
Seeing our local whānau come together, alongside everyone who had supported the journey, was incredibly moving.
Seeing our local whānau come together, alongside everyone who had supported the journey, was incredibly moving.
For me, one particularly meaningful moment was delivering whaikōrero on the haukaika side of a pōwhiri for the first time.
For me, one particularly meaningful moment was delivering whaikōrero on the haukaika side of a pōwhiri for the first time.
It reminded me how few spaces we have in the Whakatipu Basin where we can regularly practise our tikaka and simply be Māori.
It reminded me how few spaces we have in the Whakatipu Basin where we can regularly practise our tikaka and simply be Māori.
And now our mokopuna have one.
And now our mokopuna have one.
“THIS IS A REFLECTION ON HOW FEW PLACES THERE ARE HERE IN THE WHAKATIPU BASIN FOR US TO PRACTISE OUR TIKAKA AND FOR US TO JUST BE MĀORI.”
“THIS IS A REFLECTION ON HOW FEW PLACES THERE ARE HERE IN THE WHAKATIPU BASIN FOR US TO PRACTISE OUR TIKAKA AND FOR US TO JUST BE MĀORI.”
“THIS IS A REFLECTION ON HOW FEW PLACES THERE ARE HERE IN THE WHAKATIPU BASIN FOR US TO PRACTISE OUR TIKAKA AND FOR US TO JUST BE MĀORI.”
“THIS IS A REFLECTION ON HOW FEW PLACES THERE ARE HERE IN THE WHAKATIPU BASIN FOR US TO PRACTISE OUR TIKAKA AND FOR US TO JUST BE MĀORI.”
31 AUGUST 2026
FIRST TAMARIKI THROUGH THE GATES.
31 AUGUST 2026
FIRST TAMARIKI THROUGH THE GATES.
31 AUGUST 2026
FIRST TAMARIKI THROUGH THE GATES.
THE VISION
“HEI WHAKATIPU, HEI POIPOI I Ā TĀTOU MOKOPUNA I ROTO I TE AO MĀORI.”
“HEI WHAKATIPU, HEI POIPOI I Ā TĀTOU MOKOPUNA I ROTO I TE AO MĀORI.”
“HEI WHAKATIPU, HEI POIPOI I Ā TĀTOU MOKOPUNA I ROTO I TE AO MĀORI.”
“HEI WHAKATIPU, HEI POIPOI I Ā TĀTOU MOKOPUNA I ROTO I TE AO MĀORI.”
“To raise and nurture our mokopuna within te ao Māori.”
“To raise and nurture our mokopuna within te ao Māori.”
Our aspiration is to create a place where mokopuna can thrive through te reo Māori, tikaka, whakapapa, connection and the knowledge passed down through generations.
Our aspiration is to create a place where mokopuna can thrive through te reo Māori, tikaka, whakapapa, connection and the knowledge passed down through generations.
Te reo Māori is not simply a subject to learn here. It is part of everyday life.
Te reo Māori is not simply a subject to learn here. It is part of everyday life.
“Kōrero Māori i ia rā, hei whakatinana i kā tikaka o te marae i roto i ā tātou ahi katoa, ā, hei hāpai i te mana o te reo Māori me ōna tikaka.”
“Kōrero Māori i ia rā, hei whakatinana i kā tikaka o te marae i roto i ā tātou ahi katoa, ā, hei hāpai i te mana o te reo Māori me ōna tikaka.”
WHANAUKATAKA
WHANAUKATAKA
WHANAUKATAKA
WHANAUKATAKA
Connection, belonging and relationships between whānau.
Connection, belonging and relationships between whānau.
MANAAKITAKA
MANAAKITAKA
MANAAKITAKA
MANAAKITAKA
Caring for one another and nurturing our kaupapa with respect.
Caring for one another and nurturing our kaupapa with respect.
KOTAHITAKA
KOTAHITAKA
KOTAHITAKA
KOTAHITAKA
Working together, with everyone’s contribution valued.
Working together, with everyone’s contribution valued.
CLOSER TO HOME
IT STARTS AT HOME TOO.
IT STARTS AT HOME TOO.
IT STARTS AT HOME TOO.
IT STARTS AT HOME TOO.
Establishing a kōhaka is one part of the journey. The other is what happens at home.
Establishing a kōhaka is one part of the journey. The other is what happens at home.
I’m still learning te reo Māori myself, and trying to create more opportunities for our tamariki to hear it, speak it and feel confident using it.
I’m still learning te reo Māori myself, and trying to create more opportunities for our tamariki to hear it, speak it and feel confident using it.
Some days that’s easier than others.
Some days that’s easier than others.
But every conversation, every new kupu and every opportunity to practise is part of keeping the reo alive in our whānau.
But every conversation, every new kupu and every opportunity to practise is part of keeping the reo alive in our whānau.
MŌ TĀTAU, Ā, MŌ KĀ URI Ā MURI AKE NEI.
WHAT WE BUILD TODAY
BELONGS TO THOSE WHO COME NEXT.
WHAT WE BUILD TODAY
BELONGS TO THOSE WHO COME NEXT.
WHAT WE BUILD TODAY
BELONGS TO THOSE WHO COME NEXT.
WHAT WE BUILD TODAY
BELONGS TO THOSE WHO COME NEXT.
Some of the tamariki whose whānau began this journey had already grown too old to attend by the time the doors opened.
Some of the tamariki whose whānau began this journey had already grown too old to attend by the time the doors opened.
But the opportunity they helped create now belongs to the generations coming through.
But the opportunity they helped create now belongs to the generations coming through.
And that’s what makes this mahi so meaningful to me.
And that’s what makes this mahi so meaningful to me.
When I talk about pae ora for whānau Māori, this is part of what I mean:
whānau deciding what they want for their future, and working together to make it possible.
When I talk about pae ora for whānau Māori, this is part of what I mean:
whānau deciding what they want for their future, and working together to make it possible.
MŌ TĀTAU, Ā, MŌ KĀ URI Ā MURI AKE NEI.
MŌ TĀTAU, Ā, MŌ KĀ URI Ā MURI AKE NEI.
MŌ TĀTAU, Ā, MŌ KĀ URI Ā MURI AKE NEI.
MŌ TĀTAU, Ā, MŌ KĀ URI Ā MURI AKE NEI.