“He aha te kai ō te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero.”
“What is the food of the leader? It is communication, it is discussion, it is dialogue.”
Paki Pāpāho – On Air in Te Reo Māori is a creative and future-focused unit that empowers ākonga to become storytellers, broadcasters, and content creators using te reo Māori in authentic and engaging ways.
Through podcasting, interviews, reflections, storytelling, and contemporary kōrero, learners explore how language, voice, and communication connect people, ideas, and culture. Ākonga plan, script, record, and edit their own Māori-language podcast episodes while developing confidence using te reo Māori to inform, entertain, and inspire.
Blending traditional oral storytelling with modern digital media, this unit encourages learners to express themselves creatively while strengthening fluency, cultural identity, collaboration, and digital communication skills in meaningful real-world contexts.
Achievement Objectives
Whāinga Paetae
At Levels 3 and 4 of the New Zealand Curriculum, ākonga extend their communicative competence into a wider range of familiar, everyday contexts.
In this unit, learners discuss events and where they take place, describe recent activities, share plans for the near future, and communicate about quality, quantity, and cost.
These Achievement Objectives guide learning within Whakangahautia Te Reo and align with Te Tupuranga – Developing Communication Skills in Te Reo Māori.
🌱 LEVEL 3
3.1 communicate, including comparing and contrasting, about habits, routines and customs
3.2 communicate about events and where they take place.
🌱 LEVEL 4
4.2 communicate about plans for the immediate future
4.3 communicate about obligations and responsibilities
learning outcomes
Putanga Ako
The learning outcomes describe what ākonga will be able to demonstrate by the end of the unit. They focus on communicative competence, cultural participation, confidence, and relational growth, ensuring learning extends beyond language recall to meaningful application.
By the end of this unit, ākonga will be able to demonstrate the following skills:
By the end of this unit, ākonga will be able to use te reo Māori to plan, script, record, and share original podcast content inspired by their experiences, ideas, and cultural perspectives.
Learners will strengthen their understanding of Māori storytelling traditions, oral communication, and tikanga kōrero while developing vocabulary and sentence structures used for interviews, reflection, discussion, narration, and storytelling. Through collaborative and creative learning experiences, ākonga will build confidence using tone, rhythm, and expression to communicate meaning effectively.
The unit also supports digital fluency, teamwork, active listening, and creative self-expression while encouraging learners to explore how Māori voices and stories thrive within modern media platforms.
aromatawai
Assessments
This unit includes a feature-style recorded presentation assessment designed to be engaging, achievable, and confidence-building. Learning is scaffolded to ensure ākonga absorb language meaningfully before producing it through expressive tasks.
Aligned with NZC Levels 3–4 and the Pou Reo framework — Kia Tika, Kia Rere, Kia Māori, and Kia Ora te Reo — assessment prioritises clarity, fluency, cultural integrity, and learner wellbeing. The focus is on authentic communication rather than technical perfection, encouraging courageous and enthusiastic reo use.
Ākonga will create and present an original reo Māori podcast episode that showcases their storytelling, communication, and digital production skills.
Learners will plan, script, record, and edit a 3–5 minute podcast using topics such as pūrākau, interviews, reflections, role models, cultural traditions, or contemporary issues. They will use authentic spoken te reo Māori including greetings, acknowledgements, conversational language, and expressive storytelling techniques to engage listeners and communicate ideas clearly.
Using digital audio tools such as Soundtrap, Anchor, or Audacity, ākonga will produce polished podcast episodes enhanced with music, sound effects, or creative audio elements. The unit culminates in a collaborative Podcast Premiere where learners share their work with classmates, kaiako, whānau, and the wider school community.
what's included
Ngā Hua o Roto
Within this unit you will have everything you need to confidently deliver a high-quality, engaging te reo Māori unit - thoughtfully designed to reduce planning time while strengthening learning outcomes.
Each component is structured, practical, and aligned to curriculum expectations, ensuring clarity for kaiako and meaningful progression for ākonga.
📋 MĀHERE AKO – FULL UNIT PLAN
A complete ready-to-teach unit plan including curriculum links, learning intentions, teaching approaches, and clear progression aligned to NZC Levels 3–4.
📚 LESSON SLIDES AND SEQUENCING
Structured lesson sequencing with ready-to-use teaching slides, facilitation guidance, storytelling prompts, and engaging learning experiences linked to podcasting and oral communication.
🎯 INTEGRATED LANGUAGE MODES
Interactive activities that strengthen speaking, listening, reading, writing, viewing, and presenting through interviews, scriptwriting, storytelling, collaborative kōrero, and digital media creation.
🎙️ PODCASTING & DIGITAL MEDIA CREATION
Creative learning experiences using tools such as Soundtrap, Anchor, and Audacity to record, edit, and produce engaging reo Māori podcast episodes and audio storytelling projects.
📝 ĀKONGA EVALUATION & FEEDBACK
Formative reflection tools, learner feedback activities, and assessment support materials that track progress, strengthen confidence, and support future learning.
🌿 STORYTELLING, ORAL LANGUAGE & CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
Authentic kaupapa Māori learning experiences that strengthen oral language, storytelling, cultural identity, and the power of Māori voices through modern communication platforms.