Kaiako Te Reo Māori
“My advice to anyone engaging in your career path is; Trust your puku. Trust those that believe in you too and just do the mahi aha koa te aha. Find something that feels natural to you. The taonga will come to you when you aren’t expecting anything but a really good lesson. Mouri ora.”
– Hokipera Ruakere-Papuni, Adult Educator
About this career
- plan, prepare and teach programmes for students
- set and mark assignments and tests
- assess students’ work
- record students’ progress and write reports
- keep up to date with curriculum changes and assessment methods
- have relationships with local iwi, hapū, marae and community groups
Kaiako Māori need to have:
- confidence and competence in te reo Māori me ngā tikanga Māori
- understanding of key concepts in Māori culture and tikanga ā-iwi
- teaching skills relevant to the group being taught
- knowledge of different teaching methods and learning styles
- up-to-date knowledge of the required course curriculum
- organisation and planning skills
- assessment and classroom management skills
Personal qualities you need
Kaiako Māori need to be:
- skilled at communicating with students from a diverse range of backgrounds
- positive, enthusiastic and able to motivate people
- well organised and good at problem solving
- friendly, supportive, and good at listening
- creative, adaptable and resourceful
Useful experience to become a Kaiako Māori includes working with Māori communities, working on a marae, working with young people and whanau and experience in Maori language contexts.
Career Pathway
There are a variety of pathways to becoming a kaiako depending on what context and level you are planning to teach at.
Some Kaiako work with beginner language speakers in community settings, for example local community classes, while others work in kōhanga reo and Māori-medium ECE services, or mainstream kura (primary and secondary), Kura Kaupapa Māori, Māori medium and others in tertiary settings.
There are different requirements for different educational settings. Depending on the settings Kaiako require deeper knowledge in Te reo and Tikanga Māori and in relevant educational practice.
Find Out More
To find out more about the educational requirements for school settings look here:
Kaiwhakaako Māori
https://www.careers.govt.nz/jobs-database/education-and-social-sciences/education/kaiwhakaako-maori/
Our Whānau Career Story
Hokipera Ruakere-Papuni, Adult Educator
Where do I work and what do I do?
I work in the Taranaki community as a kaiako Reo and co facilitator of Tiriti workshops.
What was my career pathway to get here? (and what led me to this?)
Te whai i nga mahi katoa ka hora. Turning up when asked to do the mahi.
It has been the encouragement and support of others who have created a pathway for me to mahi tahi and fulfill the roles and responsibilities for us as uri of Taranaki mounga.
I have always been passionate about our Māori world, It has connected me to so many kaupapa, whanaunga, people and places. It has grounded me in my values and tikanga and secures a future for my tamariki and whānau.
It all started in the 80s when I was a child raised with reo and tikanga. The korero and vision of reo revitalisation at that time provided the natural spaces of sharing knowledge at the marae in the kitchens on the floor in the wharenui on the papa takaro at Te Kopae these spaces created the path. From these spaces I extended in to the community and worked in volunteer roles defining my path – lots of mahi for aroha.
Initiatives and opportunities in Te Ao Māori secured me a full-time job at the iwi radio station Te Korimako o Taranaki.
I was exposed to politics as a Youth Mangai at New Plymouth District Council at that time too, and in later adulthood I represented uri of our iwi on a post settlement governance entity local hāpu and whānau trustee roles.
What is my “why” for doing this job and making a difference for Māori
For me it’s about aspiring to be a good tupuna.
The best learning for me has been with those who share the same values. Surrounding yourself with those that believe in you and support you to be the best that you can be.
My advice to anyone engaging in your career path is; Trust your puku. Trust those that believe in you too and just do the mahi “aha koa te aha”. Find something that feels natural to you. The taonga will come to you when you aren’t expecting anything but a really good lesson. Mouri ora.
