Kia Whakawhanake
Māori Courses & Learning
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Ko te reo te tatau ki te ao
Learning with Poutawa
Poutawa offers a diverse range of te reo Māori and cultural development courses designed to support learners, educators, leaders, whānau and organisations at every stage of their journey.
Our programmes range from introductory language learning through to advanced professional development, sector-specific capability building and culturally grounded leadership programmes. Each course brings together te reo Māori, tikanga, mātauranga Māori and practical application in ways that are relevant, meaningful and responsive.
Courses are available online, in person, through blended delivery, wānanga and customised organisational programmes. This flexibility allows learners to engage in ways that suit their needs while still benefiting from strong facilitation, clear learning pathways and opportunities to apply new knowledge.
Whether you are beginning your learning journey or seeking deeper cultural and professional capability, our courses provide supportive pathways for meaningful and sustained growth.
Ngā Ara Ako
Our Courses
Our courses are designed for a wide range of learners, from individuals and whānau through to educators, leaders and organisations.
Explore our programmes by audience to find learning that aligns with your goals, experience and context. Courses are available through online, in-person, blended and customised delivery, with pathways ranging from introductory learning through to advanced language and cultural capability development.
Courses for Educators
For teachers, kaiako, education leaders and those working across early childhood, primary and secondary education.
Courses for Individuals
Build your confidence and capability in te reo Māori through supportive, practical and culturally grounded learning. These courses are designed for learners at different stages, from complete beginners through to those ready to strengthen their everyday communication and language fluency.
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Kia Hua, Kia Puāwai | Level 2
Extending Classroom Reo, Language Structures and Cultural Practice
Extend foundational classroom reo into stronger sentence construction, teaching routines, cultural practice and everyday learner interaction.
Suitable For:
Educators who have completed Level 1 or already use foundational classroom reo and common sentence patterns.
10 weeks
Blended online learning
Kia Tipu, Kia Whai Hua | Level 3
Advanced Reo Māori, Cultural Leadership and Advocacy for Educators
An advanced programme combining language growth, critical reflection, curriculum leadership and strategic cultural action.
Suitable For:
Experienced educators with strong foundational or intermediate reo M?ori ready to lead development across their school.
10 weeks
Flexible blended learning
Ngā Kākano o te Reo
A Foundational Workplace Te Reo Māori Pathway
A structured pathway that places learners at the right level and supports progression from beginner to confident foundational workplace use.
Suitable For:
Organisations and employees seeking a staged workplace reo M?ori capability pathway.
10 weeks
Public cohorts or private delivery
Te Reo Kākano
A Gentle Introduction to Te Reo Māori and Cultural Participation
A gentle, supportive introduction to pronunciation, greetings, simple introductions and confident cultural participation.
Suitable For:
Complete beginners wanting a short introduction before entering a longer foundational programme.
5 weeks
Live online � 75 minutes weekly
Te Reo Tupu
Begin Well. Build Confidence. Create Foundations That Last.
Build strong foundations in pronunciation, high-use sentence patterns and everyday workplace reo, grounded in tikanga and mātauranga Māori.
Suitable For:
Complete beginners and people rebuilding foundational workplace reo M?ori.
10 weeks
Live online � 90 minutes weekly
Puāwai
Extend Your Reo and Bring It Into Everyday Workplace Communication
Move beyond memorised phrases into adaptable sentences and short conversations for meetings, messages and everyday team interactions.
Suitable For:
Learners who have completed Te Reo Tupu or have basic pronunciation and sentence knowledge.
10 weeks
Live online � 90 minutes weekly
Whaihua
Turn Foundational Knowledge Into Meaningful, Connected Use
Turn foundational knowledge into connected workplace communication, longer explanations, instructions and stronger cultural understanding.
Suitable For:
Learners with sound foundations who want stronger fluency and workplace application.
10 weeks
Live online � extended speaking
Courses for Educators
Strengthen your confidence, knowledge and practice as an educator through programmes grounded in te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and culturally responsive teaching.
These courses support kaiako and education leaders to create meaningful learning environments and embed language and culture into everyday practice.
Te Kai a te Rangatira | Level 1
Te Reo Māori and Culturally Grounded Leadership for Principals and Senior Leaders
A practical leadership programme that builds confidence in te reo Māori, pronunciation, tikanga and culturally grounded leadership across the kura.
Suitable For:
School principals, deputy and assistant principals, senior leadership teams, aspiring leaders and governance representatives.
5 weeks
Live online � 90 minutes weekly
Te Kai a te Rangatira | Level 2
Embedding Te Reo Māori, Tikanga and Mātauranga Māori Across School Leadership
Move from personal confidence into purposeful organisational leadership by embedding reo, tikanga and mātauranga Māori across systems and strategy.
Suitable For:
Principals and senior leaders with foundational pronunciation, mihi, pepeha and tikanga knowledge.
5 weeks
Live online � 90 minutes weekly
Ka Tō, Ka Hua | Level 1
Sow the Language, Grow the Learning: Te Reo Māori for Educators
A practical reo Māori programme combining pronunciation, foundational language, mihi, pepeha, karakia and classroom application.
Suitable For:
Primary and secondary teachers, ECE educators, teacher aides, learning support staff and beginning teachers.
10 weeks
Blended online learning
Kia Hua, Kia Puāwai | Level 2
Extending Classroom Reo, Language Structures and Cultural Practice
Extend foundational classroom reo into stronger sentence construction, teaching routines, cultural practice and everyday learner interaction.
Suitable For:
Educators who have completed Level 1 or already use foundational classroom reo and common sentence patterns.
10 weeks
Blended online learning
Ngā Kākano o te Reo
A Foundational Workplace Te Reo Māori Pathway
A structured pathway that places learners at the right level and supports progression from beginner to confident foundational workplace use.
Suitable For:
Organisations and employees seeking a staged workplace reo M?ori capability pathway.
10 weeks
Public cohorts or private delivery
Te Reo Kākano
A Gentle Introduction to Te Reo Māori and Cultural Participation
A gentle, supportive introduction to pronunciation, greetings, simple introductions and confident cultural participation.
Suitable For:
Complete beginners wanting a short introduction before entering a longer foundational programme.
5 weeks
Live online � 75 minutes weekly
Te Reo Tupu
Begin Well. Build Confidence. Create Foundations That Last.
Build strong foundations in pronunciation, high-use sentence patterns and everyday workplace reo, grounded in tikanga and mātauranga Māori.
Suitable For:
Complete beginners and people rebuilding foundational workplace reo M?ori.
10 weeks
Live online � 90 minutes weekly
Puāwai
Extend Your Reo and Bring It Into Everyday Workplace Communication
Move beyond memorised phrases into adaptable sentences and short conversations for meetings, messages and everyday team interactions.
Suitable For:
Learners who have completed Te Reo Tupu or have basic pronunciation and sentence knowledge.
10 weeks
Live online � 90 minutes weekly
Whaihua
Turn Foundational Knowledge Into Meaningful, Connected Use
Turn foundational knowledge into connected workplace communication, longer explanations, instructions and stronger cultural understanding.
Suitable For:
Learners with sound foundations who want stronger fluency and workplace application.
10 weeks
Live online � extended speaking
Poipoia te Kākano
Nurturing Te Reo Māori in Early Childhood Education
Weave te reo Māori, tikanga and mātauranga Māori naturally through routines, play, relationships and early learning environments.
Suitable For:
ECE teachers, kaiako, centre leaders, home-based educators, relievers and support staff.
10 weeks
Blended online and centre application
Whakawhanaketia
Effective Teaching of Te Reo Māori: Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment Wānanga
An intensive wānanga strengthening curriculum design, language progression, pedagogy, assessment and resource development.
Suitable For:
Secondary reo M?ori teachers, beginning kaiako, curriculum leaders, wharekura teachers and NCEA educators.
2 days
Face-to-face or live online
Courses for Organisations
Grow the language and cultural capability of your team through programmes designed for workplace and sector-specific contexts. These courses support organisations to strengthen relationships, build cultural confidence and apply te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori with authenticity and purpose.
Te Reo Mataora | Level 1
Foundational Te Reo Māori for Health and Wellbeing Workforces
Build pronunciation, everyday language and cultural understanding for stronger, mana-enhancing relationships with whānau, colleagues and communities.
Suitable For:
Health, disability, wellbeing, public service and community-sector kaimahi beginning or rebuilding their reo journey.
10 weeks
Live online � 90 minutes weekly
Te Reo Mataora | Level 2
Extending Reo Māori, Cultural Confidence and Workplace Application
Extend foundational reo into longer sentences, more natural communication and confident workplace use within health and wellbeing contexts.
Suitable For:
Learners who have completed Level 1 or have equivalent foundational reo M?ori knowledge.
10 weeks
Live online � 90 minutes weekly
Te Reo ki Tua | Level 1
Foundational Te Reo Māori for Local Government, Environment and Community Work
Build foundational reo and cultural confidence for work connected to people, place, land, water and community.
Suitable For:
Council, environmental, regulatory, policy, operational and community-facing kaimahi new to reo M?ori.
10 weeks
Live online � 90 minutes weekly
Te Reo ki Tua | Level 2
From Foundational Knowledge to Confident Organisational Use
Move from guided language use to more independent communication through expanded vocabulary, sentence construction, pepeha and practical workplace reo.
Suitable For:
Kaimahi who have completed Level 1 or have equivalent foundational language capability.
9 weeks
Live online � 90 minutes weekly
Te Reo ki Tua | Level 3
Strengthening Sentence Construction, Values and Iwi Context
Strengthen grammar, connected communication and confidence while deepening understanding of iwi perspectives, kawa and tikanga.
Suitable For:
Intermediate learners who can use common sentence patterns, mihi and pepeha.
10 weeks
Live online � 90 minutes weekly
Te Reo ki Tua | Level 4
Advanced Language, Cultural Integrity and Environmental Leadership
Develop advanced reo, oral fluency and culturally grounded leadership for environmental, policy and partnership contexts.
Suitable For:
Confident intermediate learners who have completed Level 3 or can sustain structured reo M?ori communication.
10 weeks
Live online � 90 minutes weekly
Tū Māia | Cultural Capability
Building Māori Cultural Capability Through Courage, Reflection and Action
Explore Māori worldviews, colonisation, Te Tiriti, systemic inequity, tikanga and organisational responsibility through courageous reflection and action.
Suitable For:
Public service, social service, health, education and organisational kaimahi working with M?ori wh?nau and communities.
10 weeks
Blended w?nanga and online learning
Te Ara Haumako
Te Reo Māori for Primary Industries, Rural Leadership and Land-Based Professions
Build practical reo Māori and cultural capability for respectful engagement with Māori landowners, trusts and rural communities.
Suitable For:
Primary industry professionals, rural advisers, farm managers, agribusiness leaders, consultants and board members.
5 weeks
Live online � 90 minutes weekly
Courses for Whānau and Communities
Grow the language and cultural capability of your team through programmes designed for workplace and sector-specific contexts. These courses support organisations to strengthen relationships, build cultural confidence and apply te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori with authenticity and purpose.
Ketekete te Kākā
Te Reo Māori for the Home and Whānau
Bring te reo Māori into everyday home life through reusable language, routines, games, stories, encouragement and shared activities.
Suitable For:
Wh?nau, parents, caregivers, grandparents and tamariki who want to grow reo M?ori together at home.
8 weeks
Wh?nau-based blended learning
“Kei hea taku manapou, taku manatawa?”
“Where are the seeds of my language?”
Te Pūtakenga o Poutawa
The Meaning Behind Our Name
The name Poutawa is drawn from this whakataukī, which speaks to the origins, vitality and future of te reo Māori.
Like the kākā carrying seeds across the ngahere, allowing new life to take root and flourish, language must also be carried, shared, nurtured and protected. Every learner, speaker, whānau, kaiako and organisation has a role in helping the seeds of te reo Māori find fertile ground.
At the heart of this kōrero are two seeds: Te Manapou and Te Manatawa. Together, they represent our responsibility to uphold the inherited essence of the language while creating the conditions in which it can grow, adapt and flourish.
Te Manapou
Te Mauri o te Reo | The Lifeforce of the Language
Te Manapou represents the living essence of te reo Māori. It carries the mauri of the language - tikanga, wairua, karakia and ancestral knowledge - reminding us that te reo is far more than words. It is a living expression of whakapapa, identity and worldview.
This seed reflects our commitment to protecting the integrity of te reo Māori while honouring the cultural foundations from which it comes.
Te Manatawa
Te Whakatupuranga o te Reo | The Growth of the Language
Te Manatawa represents the growth and evolution of te reo Māori. It celebrates the richness of our mita, the adaptability of the language, and its ability to express Māori knowledge in both traditional and contemporary contexts.
This seed reflects our commitment to creating learning that is practical, relevant and future-focused, ensuring te reo Māori continues to be spoken, strengthened and carried forward.
Ngā Uara me te Aronga
Our Foundations and Values
Our values guide how we teach, how we design learning, how we build relationships and how we care for the knowledge entrusted to us.
Whakapono
Belief, Purpose and Potential
We believe in the transformative power of te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori.
We recognise the potential within every learner and create environments where people feel supported to participate, take risks and grow in confidence. We approach our work with optimism, purpose and an enduring belief in the future of the language.
Tuakiritanga
Identity and Belonging
Language strengthens identity, connection and belonging.
We create learning experiences that affirm Māori identity and help learners understand the relationships between language, whakapapa, culture and place. We honour the different experiences people bring while maintaining a clear commitment to the mana and integrity of te ao Māori.
Manaakitanga
Care, Respect and Responsibility
We treat people, language and mātauranga with care.
Our programmes are designed to be welcoming, uplifting and culturally safe, while encouraging learners to engage thoughtfully and responsibly. We recognise our duty to protect the knowledge shared through our work and to honour the people, communities and traditions from which it comes.
Rangatiratanga
Confidence, Agency and Leadership
We equip people with the knowledge and confidence to take meaningful action.
Our goal is to develop capable communicators, culturally grounded practitioners and responsible advocates who can contribute to the visibility, vitality and intergenerational transmission of te reo Māori.
Tā Mātou Aronga
Our Approach
Our work is grounded in the understanding that meaningful learning happens when knowledge, identity, relationships and practical application are brought together.
Mātauranga Māori and tikanga Māori
Our programmes are grounded in Māori ways of knowing, being and relating.
Language-learning expertise
We draw on extensive teaching experience, curriculum design and evidence-informed approaches to language acquisition.
Practical application
Learners are supported to use their knowledge confidently in real conversations, relationships, workplaces and communities.
Responsive programme design
We develop learning experiences that reflect the goals, responsibilities and contexts of the people and organisations we work alongside.
High expectations with genuine support
We challenge learners to grow while creating an environment in which mistakes are understood as an essential part of learning.
Ngā Kākano
The Poutawa Team
The Poutawa team brings together extensive experience in te reo Māori education, mātauranga Māori, curriculum and programme design, cultural capability development, facilitation, stakeholder engagement and organisational leadership.
We are united by a shared commitment to protecting the integrity of te reo Māori, creating exceptional learning experiences and supporting people to translate knowledge into confident, meaningful practice.
Genae Thompson
Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Mana Whakahaere
Managing Director
Genae Thompson is a te reo Māori educator, curriculum designer and language revitalisation advocate committed to helping people strengthen their connections to language, identity and culture.
Her work brings together mātauranga Māori, traditional approaches to the transmission of knowledge and contemporary language-acquisition theory. She specialises in designing structured, engaging and culturally grounded learning experiences that support learners to develop both confidence and capability.
Through Poutawa, she provides strategic and educational leadership, ensuring that each programme is purposeful, responsive and grounded in a clear vision for the future of te reo Māori.
Tahau Thompson
Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāpuhi
Pou Whakahaere
Lead Facilitator
Tahau Thompson is a highly respected te reo Māori practitioner and mātauranga Māori specialist with a deep commitment to the protection, practice and transmission of Māori language, knowledge and cultural traditions.
He is a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Māori and is recognised for the precision of his language, the depth of his cultural knowledge and his unwavering commitment to tikanga.
Tahau remains actively involved in the stewardship and transmission of kōrero tuku iho and iwi knowledge. His work is shaped by a strong sense of responsibility to those who carried this knowledge before him and to the generations who will inherit it.
He brings this depth of practice to his facilitation, supporting learners to understand not only what is being communicated, but the cultural meaning and worldview carried within the language.
Maysie Palmer
Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pikiao
Pou Ruruku
Programme Manager
Maysie Palmer is an experienced programme, administration and stakeholder-engagement professional who brings more than 15 years of experience working in complex, high-pressure and compliance-focused environments.
Maysie is known for her resilience, emotional intelligence and ability to bring clarity and structure to complex situations. She builds trusted relationships, anticipates operational needs and ensures that learners, facilitators and partner organisations are well supported throughout their engagement with Poutawa.
As Programme Manager, Maysie helps translate Poutawa’s vision into a professional and responsive learner experience, ensuring that programmes are coordinated with care, integrity and attention to detail.
Tō Mātou Hononga
We are proud to have supported organisations committed to strengthening te reo Māori and creating environments in which Māori language, knowledge and identity are respected, visible and able to flourish.
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Tā Mātou Takohanga
Our Commitment
We recognise that working with te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori carries significant responsibility.
We are committed to:
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upholding the mana and integrity of te reo Māori;
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honouring the whakapapa and cultural contexts of the knowledge we share;
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creating learning experiences of the highest educational and professional standard;
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supporting learners with honesty, care and high expectations;
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working collaboratively and respectfully with whānau, communities and organisations; and
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contributing to the intergenerational vitality of te reo Māori.
For Poutawa, language revitalisation is not simply about increasing the number of words people know. It is about strengthening relationships, restoring confidence, affirming identity and creating spaces in which te reo Māori can live, grow and flourish.
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123-456-7890
500 Terry Francois Street,
San Francisco, CA 94158
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