Te Ao Māori

Te Ao Māori ki Panuku
Embracing a Māori Worldview

Ko Waitākere ngā pae maunga
Ko Ōpanuku te awa
Ko Waitematā te moana
Ko Te Puawai Rangatahi te whare
Ko Tini Whetū Marama te whare āhuru
Ko Reitu Ramari te wharekai
Ko Panuku te marae
Nau mai, haere mai ki te whānau o Panuku

He ngākau mōhio ki te tū rangatira

We are honoured to provide a range of different kaupapa at our kura such as:

Te Rito o Reo – Whānau Unit
Ngā Taiohi o Panuku (kapa haka)
Panuku marae
Te Reo Māori
Te Ao Haka
Te Ao Māori
Pō Whakanui – Māori Achievement celebration
Pae Tawhiti – Māori Careers night
Pae Tata – Values day
Matariki activities

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori activities
Hui whānau
Annual Senior Māori and Te Ao Haka Haerenga (journey/trips)
Hosting International students on our marae
Community performances
Staff PLD
Mentoring – Academic and Pastoral
Helping Māori students reconnect to their Māoritanga

Te Rito o Te Reo Māori Whānau unit

In the late 1980’s Henderson High School had a whānau unit called Te Rito o te Reo. It was mainly a place for Māori tauira who were not succeeding in other classes to have a place to belong. In 2022, the idea to reignite the kaupapa of a whānau unit was born again.

The whānau unit, which runs as a form class, will have a large proportion of instruction in Te Reo Māori. The whānau unit is aimed at tauira and whānau who are committed to pursuing academic excellence through Te Reo me ōna tikanga, who want to develop leadership skills, and be grounded in their tuakiri Māori (Māori identity). Although fluency in Te Reo Māori is not a requirement for selection, it is an advantage.

Entry Criteria:

Students and whānau are required to commit to:

In addition to this, applicants are expected to maintain a positive record of attendance and behaviour. These expectations are monitored throughout the year by the awhi rito (form teachers).

Te Reo Māori

Te Reo Māori is offered at all levels. 6 weeks in Year 9, one semester in Year 10 and one full year in Years 11-13.

Each course is designed to develop knowledge and skills in Te Reo Māori and to enable tauira (students) to build upon any skills developed at primary and intermediate. Te Reo Māori focuses on learning key skills such as whakarongo (listening), kōrero (speaking), tuhituhi (writing) and pānui (reading).

Te Ao Haka

Te Ao Haka is offered at years 10-13. Because of the nature of the assessments, it is compulsory for tauira to be part of Ngā Taiohi o Panuku the kapa haka.

Te Ao Haka offers one semester in Year 10 and one full year in years 11-13. Over the four years students not only gain performing skills, they also learn about history, music, expression through performance, leadership skills, how to live on a marae and build whanaugantanga with other tauira in the kapa.

Te Ao Māori

Te Ao Māori is a study of the Māori world, from key forms of Māori communication to art, tikanga and manaaki manuhiri. Many of our tauira are urban Māori who are still disconnected from their Māoritanga. Our hope is that this subject will help open a door to understanding and embracing their cultural identity.

Ngā Taiohi o Panuku - Kapa Haka

“Kei te takahanga te pitomata” “The treasures are in the journey” A whakatauākī Ngā Taiohi o Panuku uses to guide everything we do. Competition is not the focus; it is the learning along the way and the growth that are important.

Pae Tawhiti - Māori Careers Night

“Ko te pae tawhiti, whāia kia tata, ko te pae tata, whakamaua kia tina” “Seek to bring distant horizons closer, and sustain and maintain those that have been arrived at”. This whakataukī guides our Māori Careers night.

With a speed “career dating” style night, various Māori role models from a range of careers come to share kōrero and knowledge about their mahi and help provide our tauira with options for after kura. We are grateful for the whanaungatanga Whaea Rere has built with many of the guest speakers, some of which have been every year for the past three years to tautoko.

Annual Senior Māori and Te Ao Haka Haerenga

Each year, tauira in Te Reo Māori, Te Ao Haka and Te Ao Māori learn about a different iwi and spend three days learning about the rohe (region), visiting historical sites and staying at local marae.

Hosting International Students On Our Marae

We have been lucky to share our culture with International students. Our senior tauira take on the responsibility of running the pōhiri by taking on roles. The goal is to nurture and develop our tauira so they have the skills to return to their own whānau and be leaders if and when they are needed.

Community Performances

We have been lucky enough to perform at a few community events and look forward to sharing our passion for kapa haka with our wider community.

International Haerenga

In 2025, Ngā Taiohi o Panuku were extremely fortunate to have travelled to Niue and stayed in the maaga (village) of Tuapa, hosted by such welcoming and kind people. The sharing of two cultures, performing and learning from each other, was truly magnificent. We performed at Niue Primary and Creche, the high school, the museum and the Fale Fono. Niue was the start of us using kapa haka as a vehicle to travel the world and share the culture we are so proud of.

Te Ao Māori

Te Ao Māori

Te Ao Māori ki Panuku
Embracing a Māori Worldview

He ngākau mōhio ki te tū rangatira

Te Rito o Te Reo Māori Whānau unit

Entry Criteria:

Quick Links

Contact Us

Te Ao Māori

Te Ao Māori

Te Ao Māori ki PanukuEmbracing a Māori Worldview

He ngākau mōhio ki te tū rangatira

Te Rito o Te Reo Māori Whānau unit

Entry Criteria:

Quick Links

Contact Us

Te Ao Māori ki Panuku
Embracing a Māori Worldview