He ara reo, he ara ora — A path of language, a path of wellbeing
12 months · Dr. Rose Pere's model · Te reo Māori
A complete te reo Māori programme structured around Te Wheke — the Māori health model. Every month you learn language and deepen a dimension of your own wellbeing. Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori.
In Te Wheke, the head of the octopus is Te Whanau — family as the foundation of all wellbeing. Before you speak the language of others, you must speak yourself into existence. This month you build your pepeha and learn the Ko sentence that anchors identity in te reo Maori.
Each morning this month, say your pepeha aloud before you leave the house. Share it with one of your tamariki this week. Ask your mama or papa to tell you their pepeha — or help them build one.
O-class (toku, o, no) is for things you don't control — parents, land, body, identity. A-class (taku, a, na) is for things you control or create — books, friends, work, songs.
Write your answer below in te reo — even just a few words. Use Ko and He sentences.
Deliver your full pepeha from memory. Assessed on: correct Ko structure throughout, pronunciation of place names, confidence (not reading from notes), appropriate closing.
Write a mihimihi introducing yourself. Include pepeha, role/occupation (He sentences), and a brief whanau description. Use at least 8 Ko sentences, 3 He sentences, and show correct O/A possession 4+ times.
Teach your pepeha to one of your tamariki this month. Record yourself saying it. Notice how it feels in your body — this is mauri in action.
Whanaungatanga — the dimension of relationships, support systems and social cohesion — is the tentacle that holds the whanau together. This month you describe the people you love in te reo, using the present tense (Kei te). Your household of seven is your living language classroom.
Use one te reo sentence per day with a family member. Start with "Kei te kai tatou" at dinner. "Kei te moe nga tamariki" at bedtime. Small words, big connection.
| Maori | English | Class | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mama | Mother | O | Kei te tahu kai toku mama. |
| Papa | Father | O | Kei te mahi toku papa. |
| Tuakana | Older sibling (same gender) | O | He ataahua toku tuakana. |
| Teina | Younger sibling (same gender) | O | Kei te haere toku teina ki te kura. |
| Tungane | Brother (of a woman) | O | He kaha toku tungane. |
| Tuahine | Sister (of a man) | O | Ko Hera toku tuahine. |
| Tamariki | Children | A | E rima oku tamariki. |
| Koroua | Grandfather / elder man | O | He matou toku koroua. |
| Kuia | Grandmother / elder woman | O | He mohio toku kuia. |
| Mokopuna | Grandchild/grandchildren | A | He ataahua nga mokopuna. |
| Number | Maori | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kotahi | Kotahi taku tamaiti. — I have one child. |
| 2 | Rua | E rua oku tuakana. |
| 3 | Toru | E toru nga kuri i reira. |
| 4 | Wha | E wha nga tamariki. |
| 5 | Rima | E rima oku tamariki. — I have five children. |
| 6–10 | Ono, Whitu, Waru, Iwa, Tekau | E tekau nga kupu hou ia ra. — 10 new words per day. |
| 20 | Rua tekau | Rua tekau tau toku teina. |
Write 3–4 Kei te sentences about this person — what they are doing in your life right now.
Describe your whanau without notes. Use Kei te for at least 4 sentences. Include numbers. Say what each person is doing right now.
Write a whakapapa passage naming 3 generations. Use Ko sentences, He sentences, correct possession throughout.
Write the names of 5 people who are your key relationships right now. For each, write one Kei te sentence about how they support your ora (wellbeing).
Waiora — the eyes of the octopus — represents total wellbeing incorporating physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social health. It acknowledges environmental determinants like clean water, air, and safe living. This month you connect language to the natural world — the Maramataka, time, and place.
Check the Maramataka phase each morning. Note whether your energy and the day's activities feel aligned with it. Begin each day by looking outside — name what you see in te reo (ua=rain, ra=sun, hau=wind, moana=sea).
The Maramataka connects human activity to the moon's cycles. Each phase has a name and guides what is best done — planting, fishing, resting, or travelling. Using it is an act of Waiora — aligning your life with the environment.
| Phase | Name | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| New moon | Whiro | Rest — avoid heavy planting or fishing |
| Crescent | Tirea | Good for planting kumara |
| Growing | Hoata | Good for fishing |
| Half | Oike | Good for travel |
| Full moon | Rakaunui | Excellent for all activities — peak energy |
| Post-full | Tangaroa-a-roto | Best fishing — Tangaroa's domain |
| Waning | Otane | Good for planting root vegetables |
| Maori | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Inanahi | Yesterday | I mahi ahau inanahi. |
| Inaianei / Aianei | Now / today | Kei te ako ahau inaianei. |
| Apopo | Tomorrow | Ka haere ahau apopo. |
| Ata | Morning | I oho ahau i te ata. |
| Awatea | Dawn | Ka ara ia i te awatea. |
| Tauihi | Midday | Ka kai tatou i te tauihi. |
| Ahiahi | Afternoon / evening | Kei te haumaru ahiahi. |
| Po | Night | I moe ratou i te po. |
Use past tense (I) to reflect on this month. What happened? What changed? What do you carry forward?
Tell the story of yesterday from waking to sleeping. Use I (past), Kei te (present), Ka (future). Include 3 time words and 2 location expressions. Mention today's Maramataka phase.
A diary entry in te reo. Use all three tenses. Include the Maramataka phase and comment on how it felt.
Rate your wellbeing this week across 5 areas (1–5): Tinana (body), Hinengaro (mind), Wairua (spirit), Whanau (family), Taiao (environment). Write one sentence about each in te reo.
Taha Wairua extends beyond personal spirituality to include connection to whenua, whanau, and cultural identity. The marae is its physical expression — tapu, noa, and karakia are its language. This month you learn passive sentences, commands, and the full powhiri process.
Begin and end each day with a karakia this month. Use the Karakia Timatanga in the morning and a simple "Unuhia, unuhia — mauri ora!" at night. Notice how it shifts the quality of your attention.
| # | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karanga | Women call to welcome manuhiri (visitors) onto the marae |
| 2 | Haka powhiri | A haka of welcome may be performed by the tangata whenua |
| 3 | Whaikorero | Speeches from both tangata whenua and manuhiri |
| 4 | Waiata | A song follows each speech to uphold the speaker |
| 5 | Koha | A gift is presented from the manuhiri side |
| 6 | Hongi | Pressing of noses — sharing the breath of life (hau ora) |
| 7 | Kai | Shared meal — eating together lifts tapu, making everyone noa |
Lead the Karakia Timatanga from memory. Then explain in te reo what it means and when it is used. Use at least 3 sentences of explanation.
Describe the powhiri process in te reo. Use passive voice at least 3 times. Include tapu and noa in your explanation.
Use karakia every day this month — morning, before kai, and at closing. At the end of the month write 3 sentences (in te reo) about how it affected your taha wairua.
Ha a Koro Ma, a Kui Ma recognises the enduring influence of ancestral wisdom, cultural traditions, and intergenerational knowledge. Matariki is the most vivid expression of this — a time to remember those who have passed and carry their breath forward. This month you learn future tense, questions, and all 9 stars.
This month, ask a kaumatua, koroua or kuia in your life to share a story. Or if they have passed, write down what you remember of them. Say their name aloud under the stars — their ha (breath) lives in you.
| Star | Domain | Meaning for this year |
|---|---|---|
| Matariki | Health, environment, Papatuanuku | The lead star — overall wellbeing and connection to land |
| Puaka / Puanga | Food from the ground | Used by some iwi as the primary new year star |
| Tupuanuku | Crops in the earth | Kumara, taro, root vegetables — what grows below |
| Tupuarangi | Food from above | Fruit, berries — what grows in trees and sky |
| Waiti | Freshwater | Eels, rivers, streams — freshwater resources |
| Waita | Saltwater / ocean | Sea creatures, fishing, ocean resources |
| Waipuna-a-Rangi | Rain | Water from the sky — forecasting rain for the year |
| Ururangi | Winds | Nature of winds for the coming year |
| Hiwa-i-te-rangi | Aspirations / wishing star | Karakia your intentions for the new year to this star |
Name all 9 stars without notes. Describe the personal significance of Matariki to you and your whanau. Use Ka for at least 5 statements.
What Matariki is, why it matters, the 9 stars, and your intentions (karakia to Hiwa-i-te-rangi). Include 3 emotion words.
Name 3 elders (living or passed) who have shaped who you are. Write one Ka sentence about what each gave you that you carry forward.
Whatumanawa is the dimension of emotional expression — the open and healthy expression of feelings. This month, celebration becomes your classroom. You learn the stative Kua, negation, and the full vocabulary of emotion. Koa (joy), pouri (grief), aroha (love) — name them in te reo and they become real.
Each evening, name one emotion you felt today in te reo. Write it down: "I koa ahau i..." / "I pouri ahau i..." / "I ohorere ahau i...". This is your Whatumanawa journal.
| Maori | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Aroha | Love / compassion | Kua puta mai te aroha. — Love has emerged. |
| Koa | Joyful / happy | Kua koa toku ngakau. — My heart is joyful. |
| Pouri | Sad / grieving | He pouri toku ngakau. — My heart is sad. |
| Riri | Angry | Kaua e riri. — Don't be angry. |
| Mataku | Afraid | Kua mataku ahau. — I have become afraid. |
| Ohorere | Surprised / astonished | Ka ohorere ahau! — I am astonished! |
| Manawa ora | Relieved / refreshed | Kua manawa ora ahau. — I am restored. |
| Ngakau | Heart / inner feeling | He aroha toku ngakau ki a koe. |
Sustain 15 minutes of spoken te reo. Assessed on: use of Kua, correct negation, range of tenses, ability to self-correct. Use emotion vocabulary at least 5 times.
A real or imagined whanau gathering. Use all 4 tenses. Kua at least 4 times. Negation at least twice. At least 4 emotion words.
Review your emotion journal from this month. Write a short paragraph (in English or te reo) about what you noticed in your emotional life. He aha nga ahua o tou ngakau?
Mauri is the essential life force that sustains physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Whakataukii are concentrated mauri — they carry the life force of generations in a single phrase. This month you learn 8 core whakataukii, temporal sentences, and how to argue and connect ideas in te reo.
Choose one whakataukii as your personal touchstone for the month. Write it somewhere you see it daily. Say it each morning. Notice how its meaning shifts as you encounter different situations.
Recite each from memory. Explain literal meaning, deeper metaphorical meaning, and give an example of when you would use it. Connect each to a dimension of Te Wheke.
Write about a challenge or value important to you. Open and close with a whakataukii. Use temporal sentences 3 times. Use connectives: engari, heoi, no reira.
Write a Mauri assessment for yourself right now. What is restoring your mauri? What is depleting it? Name each thing in te reo if you can.
Mana Ake refers to personal identity, self-worth, and the inherent dignity of each individual. The whaikorero is the ultimate expression of Mana Ake in te ao Maori — standing to speak with authority is an act of claiming your identity and your place. This month you learn formal speech structure and why-sentences.
Write 3 statements about who you are — not what you do, but who you ARE. Start each with "Ko ahau..." Use them as your personal affirmations this month. Say them in te reo every morning.
| # | Part | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tauparapara | Opening chant — tribal or seasonal reference. Sets tone and roots you in identity. |
| 2 | Mihi ki nga mate | "Ko ratou ra, ko ratou — e nga mate, haere, haere, haere." Acknowledge those passed. |
| 3 | Mihi ki te hunga ora | Greet the living. "Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa." |
| 4 | Kaupapa | Main body — your topic, argument, message. Frame with whakataukii. |
| 5 | Perorere / Whakakapi | Closing — tie back, strong final image. "No reira, tena koutou katoa." |
| 6 | Waiata | A song must follow every speech. Choose one that supports your kaupapa. |
Full whaikorero: tauparapara, mihi ki nga mate, mihi ki te hunga ora, 2 whakataukii, no te mea sentences, perorere. Follow with a waiata.
Argue for te reo revitalisation using formal register. Include 2 whakataukii as evidence. Use no te mea and na reira multiple times.
Write 5 Ko ahau... statements that affirm your identity and worth. Display them somewhere visible. Say them in te reo each morning this week.
Taha Hinengaro encompasses cognition, emotional health, and psychological resilience. Advanced grammar — relative clauses, causative sentences — is a workout for the hinengaro. The ability to reason, argue, and construct complex thought in te reo is itself a form of mental strength and cultural resilience.
Notice your thinking patterns in te reo this month. When you catch yourself thinking a sentence you already know in te reo — celebrate it. Your hinengaro is rewiring. Write one thought per day that you had in te reo (even partially).
Debate a topic with your hoa ako or kaiako. Use relative clauses 4+ times, Na causative 3+ times. Be ready to argue both sides.
Argue a position meaningful to you. Use relative clauses, causative sentences, whakataukii for evidence, and formal connectives.
How is your mental wellbeing right now? Write 5 sentences — what is strengthening your hinengaro and what is challenging it. Use Na ___ i ___ to attribute causes.
Taha Tinana is the physical dimension — the body, movement, exercise, kai, and rest. This month you master the subtle distinctions between Ka/Kua/Kei te, and you connect your reo practice to a physical wellbeing commitment. A strong body and a strong reo are not separate — they are both expressions of mauri.
Choose a physical practice to commit to this month — walking, training, swimming, gardening. Name every part of it in te reo. "Kei te heke ahau" (I am going downhill). "Kei te toa toku tinana" (My body is strong). Your body deserves te reo too.
| Particle | Use | Example | Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kei te | Present — happening now | Kei te heke ahau. | I am going right now |
| Ka | Future / habitual / sequential | Ka heke ahau. | I will go / I go (generally) |
| Kua | State achieved / perfect | Kua heke ahau. | I have gone (and am now in the arrived state) |
| I | Past — specific completed action | I heke ahau inanahi. | I went yesterday (at that time) |
| E ___ ana | Ongoing / continuous | E heke ana ahau. | I am in the process of going (emphasis on continuity) |
| Maori | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tinana | Body / physical | He kaha toku tinana. — My body is strong. |
| Hau ora | Health / vitality | Ka tiaki ahau i toku hau ora. |
| Ngenge | Tired / exhausted | Kei te ngenge ahau. |
| Kaha | Strong | Ka kaha ake toku tinana. |
| Moe | Sleep | I moe pai ahau inanahi po. |
| Kai | Food / to eat | He kai ora taku kai. |
| Haere | Go / walk / travel | Ka haere ahau ki te heke maunga. |
| Ora | Alive / well / healthy | Kei te ora toku tinana, toku hinengaro. |
Sustain 20 minutes. Assessed on: correct tense selection, nominalisations, relative clauses, whakataukii, ability to self-correct. Topic must relate to Te Wheke dimensions.
Research a topic in te ao Maori. Write formally. Use nominalisations 4+ times. Acknowledge sources in te reo.
Write your physical wellbeing commitment for the month. What are you doing for your tinana? Use Kei te, Ka, Kua across the month to report on how it's going.
This month you write — and in writing, you integrate everything. Every essay is an act of Waiora Katoa: bringing all dimensions of Te Wheke into one expression. You learn formal essay structure, register, and metaphor. Your 30-minute whakapuaki practice begins. The year is nearly whole.
Map yourself against all 10 Te Wheke dimensions today. Rate each 1–5. Write one sentence in te reo about each. This is your Waiora Katoa portrait — the most honest self-assessment you can do.
| Section | Name | Purpose | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whakatuwhera | Opening — introduce kaupapa, open with whakataukii, set context | ~100 words |
| 2 | Tinana 1 | First argument — evidence, examples, whakataukii | ~150 words |
| 3 | Tinana 2 | Second argument — expand, contrast, deepen | ~150 words |
| 4 | Tinana 3 | Synthesis — counter-arguments addressed, broader context | ~150 words |
| 5 | Whakakapi | Conclusion — restate position, close with whakataukii or call to action | ~100 words |
Deliver a 30-minute presentation on your Month 12 kaupapa. Peer/kaiako feedback. Focus: range of patterns, whakataukii integration, natural transitions, Te Wheke connections.
Formal 5-part essay. Topic: what this year of te reo has done for your ora across the 10 dimensions of Te Wheke. Use all major pattern types. Open and close with whakataukii.
Complete the self-assessment template above. Share your results with a trusted person. What surprises you? What do you want to strengthen in Month 12?
You have moved through all 10 dimensions of Te Wheke. You have spoken your identity, named your family, aligned with the natural world, honoured your ancestors, expressed your emotions, stood in your mana, strengthened your hinengaro, cared for your tinana. Now you speak — for one hour, in te reo anake.
Each day this month, write one sentence that captures something from your year. By the end, you will have 30 sentences — a portrait of your journey. Read them aloud before your whakapuaki. They are your tauparapara.
| Marama | Reo Kaupapa | Te Wheke Dimension | Key Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ko Au Tenei | Te Whanau (the head) | Ko, He, O/A possession |
| 2 | Te Whanau | Whanaungatanga | Kei te, Numbers |
| 3 | Te Wa me te Taiao | Waiora (the eyes) | I (past), Kei hea, Maramataka |
| 4 | Huihui Maori | Taha Wairua | Passive, Commands, Karakia |
| 5 | Matariki | Ha a Koro Ma, a Kui Ma | Ka, Questions, 9 stars |
| 6 | Ngahau | Whatumanawa | Kua, Negation, Emotion |
| 7 | Nga Whakataukii | Mauri | Temporal, Connectives, 8 proverbs |
| 8 | Korero Rangatira | Mana Ake | No te mea, Whaikorero |
| 9 | Haere ki Ro Kura | Taha Hinengaro | Relative clauses, Na causative |
| 10 | Ahua Hou | Taha Tinana | Ka/Kua/Kei te distinction |
| 11 | Tuhi Tika | Waiora Katoa | 5-part essay, Register |
| 12 | Te Tino Whakapuaki | Te Wheke Ora Katoa | All 70 patterns — authentic use |
Deliver your full 1-hour whakapuaki to an audience. Te reo Maori only throughout — including questions. Assessed on:
Your journey this year — what you learned, what changed in you, what you carry forward. Use all major pattern types. Open and close with whakataukii. Write through Te Wheke. Write with mana.
Compose your own karakia for the end of this year. Acknowledge your maunga, awa, and iwi from your pepeha. Give thanks for the learning. Call your reo forward into the next year. This karakia is yours — ngakau pono, from the true heart.
Type to search lessons, patterns, and vocabulary.