Building Capability in Catholic Education: Strengthening Te Reo Māori and Tikanga at NZCEO 

Brief Overview of the Organisation
The New Zealand Catholic Education Office (NZCEO) delivers high-quality support, advice, and advocacy for Catholic proprietors (owners) to strengthen the delivery of authentic Catholic education in Aotearoa New Zealand. NZCEO also serves as the secretariat for APIS, representing the state-integrated education sector and negotiating with the government on behalf of the owners of state-integrated schools. 

The Challenge
NZCEO staff sought to enhance their understanding and use of te reo Māori and tikanga as part of their commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. While the organisation had a history of supporting tangata whenua and incorporating Māori culture in schools, there was a clear desire to improve the staff’s knowledge of the language and cultural practices to normalise it within the office environment. The team approached Kāpuhipuhi Wellington Uni-Professional for support in this journey. 

Objectives
NZCEO aimed to: 

• Improve pronunciation in te reo Māori so staff could confidently use names, greetings, and everyday language

• Develop the ability to deliver a mihi with confidence

• Build knowledge of office tikanga to support the use of the language and honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi in their workplace

• Remain open to any opportunities that might arise to further enhance cultural understanding

The Solution
Wellington Uni-Professional, led by Programme Manager Marie Cocker, worked closely with NZCEO to design a customised Workplace Te Reo Level 1 programme. Delivered face-to-face, the programme ran for two hours once a week, allowing staff to participate during the workday. A total of sixteen staff members from NZCEO, along with other national Catholic organisations like CARITAS and NZCBC, participated in the programme. 

The Level 1 programme was delivered over ten weeks in 2023, with the support of a comprehensive workbook and a highly regarded tutor, Hannah Higginson. Hannah’s relational approach and ability to break down lessons into verbal, written, and kinesthetic activities created a safe and engaging learning environment for all participants. 

Building on the success of Level 1, NZCEO requested Wellington Uni-Professional to deliver both Level 2 and Level 3 Workplace Māori in 2024. By this time, the programme had been accredited and micro-credentialled, offering a cost-effective solution for NZCEO. The enthusiasm for learning continued to grow, leading to a request for a personalised programme in 2025, with monthly three-hour sessions to revise and expand conversational Māori. 

The Impact
One of the most significant outcomes has been the staff’s continued commitment to learning te reo Māori. Many participants have become passionate about the language and have enrolled in other courses. Overall, the use of te reo within the office has increased, and there has been a marked improvement in staff confidence in pronunciation, greetings, delivering mihi, and engaging in small conversations. Additionally, staff have started to translate Māori articles, using these opportunities to deepen their understanding of sentence structures. 

The ability to confidently run a mihi whakatau to welcome manuhiri has been a key achievement, and the team is excited about the next stages of their learning journey. 

Testimonial
“Wellington Uni-Professional has been flexible and open to different delivery modes, and we cannot recommend them highly enough. The passion and confidence within our team have grown, and we’re excited to continue our journey in te reo Māori.”—NZCEO Staff Member.