Te Kai a te Rangatira | Level 1
Te Reo Māori and Culturally Grounded Leadership for Principals and Senior Leaders
Whakamāhuki | Overview
Grow confident, culturally grounded reo Māori capability—at work, during work hours.
Te Kai a te Rangatira Level 1 is a practical leadership programme for people who want to strengthen their personal use of te reo Māori and lead cultural development through visible, informed action. The course recognises that school leaders do not need to be fluent or hold all cultural knowledge before they begin. They do need to pronounce names with care, participate with humility, understand the meaning behind key practices and model the learning disposition they expect from others. Across five focused weeks, participants build foundational reo, tikanga and mātauranga Māori knowledge while applying each kaupapa directly to leadership communication, staff culture, whānau relationships and school-wide planning.
Designed for
School principals, deputy and assistant principals, senior leadership teams, aspiring leaders and board or governance representatives who influence school culture.
Course Dates:
Week commencing Monday 24 August 2026
Delivery Mode:
Live online: one 90-minute class each week
Course Fee:
$500 per person
Duration:
5 weeks
Hāngaitanga
Why This Course Matters in 2026
In 2026, school leaders are navigating curriculum change, staff capability gaps, increasing expectations for culturally sustaining practice and continued pressure on a small number of M?ori staff and wh?nau to carry cultural responsibilities. This course helps leaders move beyond symbolic inclusion and isolated events. It supports them to build shared responsibility, make better-informed decisions and create practical conditions in which te reo M?ori, tikanga and M?ori identity are consistently upheld.
Kupu Ārahi | Guiding Expression
"Ka whāngaia, ka tipu, ka puāwai"
"That which is nurtured will grow, then blossom"
In 2026, school leaders are navigating curriculum change, staff capability gaps, increasing expectations for culturally sustaining practice and continued pressure on a small number of M?ori staff and wh?nau to carry cultural responsibilities. This course helps leaders move beyond symbolic inclusion and isolated events. It supports them to build shared responsibility, make better-informed decisions and create practical conditions in which te reo M?ori, tikanga and M?ori identity are consistently upheld.
Ngā Hua Nui
What this course covers
Whāinga Paetae | Course Objectives
Across the programme, participants will:
Build confidence with the accurate pronunciation of M?ori vowels, digraphs, names, kupu and place names used within the kura community.
Understand why correct pronunciation is a leadership responsibility connected to identity, belonging and the mana of ?konga and wh?nau.
Learn and confidently use appropriate karakia, greetings, acknowledgements and closing expressions in meetings, assemblies and school events.
Develop an authentic mihi, pepeha or place-based introduction that reflects personal identity and role without claiming connections that are not your own.
Explore the purpose, sequence and appropriate participation required within p?whiri, whakatau, hui and other culturally significant school processes.
Apply whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, rangatiratanga, kaitiakitanga, tika and pono as practical leadership principles rather than translated values alone.
Strengthen relationships with M?ori ?konga, staff, wh?nau, marae, hap?, iwi and mana whenua through respectful, reciprocal and sustained engagement.
Recognise cultural loading and identify where M?ori staff, wh?nau or ?konga may be carrying an unfair share of language and cultural responsibilities.
Model visible learning by speaking, practising, receiving correction and demonstrating the courage and consistency expected from staff and learners.
Develop realistic next steps for strengthening te reo M?ori, tikanga M?ori and culturally grounded leadership across the kura.
Putanga Ako | Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
Pronounce familiar M?ori names, kupu and place names with greater accuracy.
Open and close a hui, meeting or assembly using appropriate reo and tikanga.
Deliver a culturally appropriate introduction, mihi or pepeha.
Explain the purpose of key tikanga processes and identify when local guidance is needed.
Apply M?ori values to leadership communication, relationships and decision-making.
Identify where cultural responsibilities are concentrated and plan how capability can be shared.
Develop a practical 2026 cultural leadership plan for their kura.
He Aha Kei Roto
What Is Included
Live facilitated learning with experienced Poutawa kaiako.
Access to course slides, recordings and structured revision resources.
A practical learner workbook with explanations, examples and reflection activities.
Pronunciation audio, vocabulary support and language-modelling resources where relevant.
Templates, sentence frames and practical tools that can be used immediately.
Short between-session activities designed to move learning into everyday practice.
A supportive learning r?p? where questions, practice and mistakes are welcomed.
A certificate of participation following completion of the programme requirements.
Item Title One
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Te Wā Tuku
Course Dates
Courses commence during the week of Monday 24 August 2026. The indicative final teaching week is the week of 21 September 2026.
Class Option 1:
Tuesday: 3.30pm - 5.00pm
CLass Option 2
Wednesday: 5.30pm - 7.00pm
Participants enrol in one stream. Where space permits, learners may attend the alternative stream when they cannot attend their usual class.