Māori Cultural Competency
Building your cultural competency to engage confidently with Māori.
Course overview
Building cultural confidence starts with language. This in-person interactive workshop is designed for professionals seeking to pronounce te reo Māori accurately and engage respectfully with Māori communities. It combines hands-on language learning with cultural insights, covering key values, protocols, and everyday expressions. Participants will learn how to greet others, introduce themselves, open and close meetings in te reo Māori, and navigate cultural settings like pōwhiri and mihi whakatau. Ideal for those working in public-facing roles, HR, education, or leadership, this course empowers participants to build meaningful connections through culturally safe and respectful engagement.
What you'll learn
- Pronounce Māori words with confidence
- Greet and acknowledge people in both formal and informal settings
- Introduce yourself
- Open and close meetings in Māori
- Learn etiquette for engaging with Māori on a marae and in the workplace
- Understand some fundamental aspects of Māori culture and society; historically and today
Course modules
1. Māori Language for the Workplace
Participants will learn fundamental aspects of the Māori language, including proper pronunciation, useful greetings and other polite acknowledgements, phrases for opening and closing meetings, and the use of Māori in written communication.
2. Etiquette for Engaging with Māori
Participants analyse and discuss key cultural concepts, beliefs and practices to answer the following:
- What are the cultural concepts that underpin the Māori worldview?
- What is the basis for these concepts?
- How do they inform Māori beliefs and in particular beliefs regarding the environment?
- How do these beliefs subsequently inform Māori behaviour?
- How can I engage with Māori in a culturally safe manner?
- How should I participate in pōwhiri and mihi whakatau (rituals of encounter, openings and closings used during meetings both on and off the marae)?
Further Information
Format
These interactive sessions will combine teaching by the tutor with practical exercises.
A booklet of course materials will be provided to each participant.
Private courses
This programme can be adapted to suit your organisational needs and ordered as a private course. For more information, please contact our Poutaki Māori, Marie Cocker (marie.cocker@wellingtonuni-professional.nz).
Here’s what others are saying
“This course is amazing for filling in gaps of cultural knowledge we pick up through school and professional life. The instructor creates a safe space for exploring tikanga and getting comfortable with pronunciation and cultural practices for non-Māori participants. Essential for all tangata te Triti!”
“I was a little apprehensive that I might feel ‘out of my depth’, but this was far from the case due to Tania’s excellent teaching style and the fact that she was more than happy to explain things further if asked – definitely a “no such thing as a stupid question” environment! I feel like everyone was made to feel incredibly at ease (even during the interactive parts which can be nerve-racking for some) and the whole course was delivered with genuine passion, with respect for all and a nice mix of humour to keep everyone relaxed and engaged! Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about Māori culture, including those who might be lacking in confidence.”
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