Learn te reo Māori

Basic Māori language course level 1

Te Pōkaitahi Reo Level 1

Te Pōkaitahi Reo (Rumaki, Reo Rua) (Te Kaupae 1)

Level 1 Te Reo Certificate - Beginners

Learning te reo Māori is more than gaining a language – it’s about connecting with culture, identity, and belonging.

Start your Māori language journey with a level 1 certificate in te reo Māori at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. Te Pōkaitahi Reo (Rumaki, Reo Rua) (Te Kaupae 1) is a beginner programme designed for people with little or no prior Māori language skill. You’ll learn everyday greetings, simple conversations, and cultural knowledge that will help you use te reo in daily life.

Whether you’re reconnecting or starting from scratch, this beginner-level course helps you build everyday language skills, pronunciation confidence, and a deeper connection to te ao Māori.

Enrol in Te Pokaitahi Reo Level 1 today and take the first step toward reclaiming, revitalising, and celebrating te reo Māori.

Why Study Te Pōkaitahi Reo Level 1

Supportive Whānau Learning Environment
Learn in a culturally grounded, collaborative and inclusive learning environment.

Perfect for Beginners
No prior knowledge needed. Ideal for first-time learners who want to learn basic reo Māori and build confidence in speaking and listening

Practical Skills for Everyday Use
Build vocabulary and conversational ability to use in your whānau, workplace, or marae.

Fees-Free for Eligible Tauira
Invest in your learning without the barrier of tuition fees

Clear Pathways
Nationally recognised qualification with pathways to Level 2 and beyond

What you’ll learn in Te Pōkaitahi Reo Level 1
Greet and introduce yourself in te reo Māori
Use basic vocabulary for everyday conversations
Understand simple tikanga Māori practices
Gain confidence to continue to Level 2

Who should apply?
Beginners with little or no reo Māori knowledge
Whānau who want to bring te reo into their homes
Professionals wanting to use basic reo Māori at work
Students beginning their cultural and language journey

View all Māori language courses

Dates

Sem 1: 02 Feb to 28 Jun 2026, Sem 2: 13 Jul to 29 Nov 2026

Duration

20 weeks

Commitment

Face to face and blended delivery comprising of noho, wānanga, mixed mode and field visits/practice.

View link for details

Applications close

Sem 1: 16 Feb 2026, Sem 2: 27 Jul 2026

Locations

Whakatāne Campus, Tāmaki Campus, Ngāruahine Hawera, Manurewa Marae, Papatūanuku Kōkiri Marae (Mangere), Te Herenga Waka, Online: Aotearoa, Australia

Requirements

Min 16 years old. Open entry

Pathway to

Select link below

Te Pōkaitahi Reo Level 2

Fees

Tuition fees free

View Fees Table

Show Course Outline Hide Course Outline

REO101 Mana Tangata 1

Course Type: Core

Description: From this paper, tauira will be able to use te reo Māori vocabulary and grammatical structures at a basic level as an expression of mana tangata. The content areas are:

Māori alphabet
Basic language command
Dialectal difference
Language etiquette
Language structures to communicate genealogical links (eldest, youngest, parents, brothers, older siblings, younger siblings, children).

REO102 Mana Whenua 1

Course Type: Core

Description: From this paper, tauira will be able to use te reo at a basic level to talk about themselves and their own connections to the land and the environment as an expression of mana whenua. The content areas are:

Māori Alphabet
Basic language command
Dialectal difference
Language etiquette
Language structures to communicate genealogical links to land (pepeha)
Formal and informal greetings and farewells
Identity

REO103 Mana Reo 1

Course Type: Core

Description: Apply technical knowledge of basic reo to everyday use, and develop respect for te reo, as an expression of mana reo. The content areas are:

Māori alphabet
Basic language command
Dialectal difference
Language etiquette
Basic language use through karakia and waiata.

REO104 Mana Ao Tūroa 1

Course Type: Core

Description: At the end of this kōwae ako, tauira will be able to use: Te reo at a basic level to achieve tasks in familiar contexts as an expression of mana ao tūroa. The content areas are:

Māori alphabet
Basic language command
Dialectal difference
Language etiquette
Instructional Language (family, work and community context).
Relevant vocabulary (family, work and community context).
Relevant language structures (family, work and community context).

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Te Reo Māori Courses

These Māori language courses are open to all learners with options for beginners through to intermediate and more advanced levels.

Wānanga learning style

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi delivers programmes that are distinctive in many ways. We are unique in the tertiary sector of New Zealand, as we are the only wānanga that delivers programmes from foundation through to PhD.

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