Kia ora, haere mai
Your te reo Māori resource hub
Ka rawe, you have found the right spot. Whether you are just starting out with “kia ora” and “mōrena”, or you are already holding your own in a kōrero, this page rounds up the best tools, courses, and tāngata to help you grow your reo. No matter how big or small, every bit of te reo you pick up makes a difference. So jump in, give it a go, and have fun with it.
Dictionaries and word tools
When you hear a new kupu (word) and want to know what it means, these are your go-tos.
- Te Aka Māori DictionaryThe classic. A proper Māori–English, English–Māori dictionary with encyclopaedic entries covering native plants, animals, stars, key people, and iwi. There is an app too, so you can look things up on the hop.Visit site
- He Pātaka KupuThe first all-Māori (monolingual) dictionary, with around 24,000 entries sorted by traditional atua domains like Tangaroa and Tāne. Brilliant once you are past the beginner stage and want to think in te reo rather than translating back to English.Visit site
Learn the reo — courses and classes
Plenty of these are fees-free and you can study online, on campus, or out on the marae. There is something for absolute beginners right through to advanced speakers.
- Where to learn (Te Rangaihi Reo Māori)A searchable directory of te reo courses across Aotearoa, filtered by level, whether it is online or in person, and if it is free. A cracking place to start.Visit site
- Reo OraA structured 12-month programme (with an app) that takes you from beginner to confident speaker, including pronunciation feedback. Great if you want a guided path you can follow from your phone.Visit site
Get immersed — watch, listen, and soak it up
The best way to lock the reo in is to hear it and use it. Fill your day with te reo through telly, film, and kaupapa Māori media.
- Whakaata Māori (Māori Television)Aotearoa's national indigenous media organisation. Heaps of bilingual and subtitled shows, so there is something for everyone.Visit site
- MĀORI+Whakaata Māori's streaming service. Watch kapa haka, movies, sport, and live events whenever you like.Visit site
- Waatea NewsAuckland's Māori radio station and a steady stream of regional Māori news. Listen live on 603 AM or online, and catch the daily te reo news bulletins as a podcast.Visit site
The big picture — history, strategy, and the movement
If you want to understand where te reo has come from and where it is heading, these are the heavy hitters.
- Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission)The Crown entity set up under the Māori Language Act 1987 to promote te reo as a living language. They look after the Translators and Interpreters Register too.Visit site
- Te Rangaihi Reo Māori — The MovementThe year-round kaupapa behind Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Sign up, take the Moment, and join thousands of people growing their reo.Visit site
- Te Puni Kōkiri — Te Reo MāoriThe Ministry of Māori Development's background on the reo, including the history of He Pātaka Kupu and the written Māori language.Visit site
- Te Wiki o te Reo Māori — NZ HistoryA solid read on how Māori Language Week grew from a single day in 1972 into a nationwide celebration that has been running since 1975.Visit site
Go deeper — culture and mātauranga Māori
Te reo and tikanga go hand in hand. These resources will help you understand the wider world the language lives in.
- Te Ara — The Encyclopedia of New ZealandManatū Taonga's online encyclopedia, with millions of words and entries on Māori culture published in both te reo and English.Visit site
- Māori MapsAn interactive guide to over 780 marae across Aotearoa — find your way to tribal marae through maps, photographs, and information. A helpful way to connect the reo to the places and people it belongs to.Visit site
A handful of handy tips
- Small is meaningful. Even a “kia ora” at the dairy or a “mōrena” to your workmates keeps the reo alive.
- Follow Māori creators on social media so te reo turns up naturally in your feed.
- Have a crack at a waiata — singing is a wicked way to memorise words and pronunciation.
- Be patient with yourself. Everyone starts somewhere, and the reo community is a welcoming one.
Mauri ora — all the best with your reo journey!
Ready for a guided path?
Waka Wetereo can take you further
Structured online te reo Māori courses you can work through at your own pace, plus a moderated community to ask questions in. Membership is $28 a month.