Tōku Tuakiritanga

My Identity

"He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata."

“What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.”

Tōku Tuakiritanga – My Identity is a foundational te reo Māori unit designed for ākonga beginning their secondary reo journey. Grounded in the New Zealand Curriculum and culturally sustaining approaches, this kaupapa positions te reo Māori as a living language inseparable from tikanga and mātauranga Māori.

Through pepeha, mihimihi, karakia, and identity-based kōrero, ākonga develop the language and cultural confidence to communicate about who they are, where they are from, and how they connect to others.

Interactive games, collaborative learning tasks, and structured speaking opportunities bring language learning to life while nurturing belonging and relational awareness.

🌱 Years 9-10

📚 NZC Level 1 & 2

🕒 30+ Hours

💲$799 + GST

WHĀINGA PAETAE Achievement Objectives

Tōku Tuakiritanga – My Identity is a foundational te reo Māori unit designed for ākonga beginning their secondary reo journey. Grounded in the New Zealand Curriculum and culturally sustaining approaches, this kaupapa positions te reo Māori as a living language inseparable from tikanga and mātauranga Māori. Through pepeha, mihimihi, karakia, and identity-based kōrero, ākonga develop the language and cultural confidence to communicate about who they are, where they are from, and how they connect to others. Interactive games, collaborative learning tasks, and structured speaking opportunities bring language learning to life while nurturing belonging and relational awareness. This unit empowers learners to speak with clarity and pride, strengthen peer relationships, and understand te reo Māori as a pathway to identity, connection, and cultural responsibility in Aotearoa.

🌱 LEVEL 1

1.1 greet, farewell, and acknowledge people and respond to greetings and acknowledgments
1.2 introduce themselves and others and respond to introductions
1.3 communicate about numbers, using days of the week, months and dates
1.4 communicate about personal information
1.5 communicate about location
1.6 understand and use simple polite conventions
1.7 use and respond to simple classroom language

🌿 LEVEL 2

2.1 communicate about relationships between people
2.2 communicate about possessions
2.3 communicate about likes and dislikes, giving reasons where appropriate
2.4 communicate about time, weather, and seasons
2.5 communicate about physical characteristics, personality, and feelings.

PUTANGA AKO Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes describe what ākonga will be able to demonstrate by the end of the unit. They focus on communicative competence, cultural participation, confidence, and relational growth, ensuring learning extends beyond language recall to meaningful application.

By the end of this unit, ākonga will be able to demonstrate the following skills at a beginner's level:

Use foundational te reo Māori structures for authentic communication.

Understand and participate respectfully in tikanga practices such as karakia and mihimihi.

Speak with increasing accuracy in pronunciation, rhythm, and flow.

Communicate confidently about themselves, their whānau, and their connections.

Use descriptive sentences about identity, whānau, feelings, and places.

Apply mātauranga Māori concepts to strengthen relationships and interactions.

WHAKAPŪMAUTANGA Assessments

This unit features short, scaffolded assessments designed to build confidence across the different language modes - listening, speaking, reading, and writing - while tracking student progress over time. At junior level, the focus is on growth and developing confidence rather than measuring fixed or high-stakes achievement.

Tasks progress from oral responses to written application and an identity-based kōrero, supporting meaningful communication in authentic contexts. Aligned with NZC Level 1 and the Pou Reo framework - Te Tika, Te Rere, Te Māori, and Te Ora o te Reo, the emphasis is on clarity, confidence, and cultural integrity.

TE REO TOROTORO – COMPREHENSION ASSESSMENT

A structured listening and reading task focused on identity, whānau, preferences, and classroom language.

Ākonga respond to short spoken descriptions, interpret instructions, and read whānau profiles before answering comprehension questions.

This task prioritises understanding, accuracy, and application of familiar sentence patterns while reinforcing confidence in written and receptive reo skills.

TE TUAKIRITANGA – IDENTITY PRESENTATION

An integrated oral assessment requiring ākonga to present a short identity profile (live or recorded).

Ākonga deliver a pepeha, describe whānau relationships, and share personal characteristics and preferences using structured language patterns.

This task highlights growing fluency, relational awareness, and the ability to sustain meaningful kōrero in culturally grounded ways.

At Levels 1 and 2, tasks are designed to encourage ākonga in their language learning journey by empowering achievement through relevant, task-based activities that are practical and meaningful. Assessment is not intended to be a pass-or-fail measure, but rather an opportunity for both ākonga and kaiako to consolidate and demonstrate learning, and to identify how best to support continued progress.

NGĀ PĀINGA Unit Benefits

Tōku Tuakiritanga is a ready-to-teach unit designed to ease teacher workload while supporting multiple classes and varied levels of prior learning. With structured lessons and engaging, interactive resources, it ensures high-quality, culturally grounded learning without the planning pressure.

Created for rangatahi beginning their secondary reo Māori journey, the unit builds confidence, strengthens identity, and increases enthusiasm for te reo Māori through meaningful, mana-enhancing learning experiences.

🌱MĀ NGĀ ĀKONGA

Incorporates themes and activites relevant to rangatahi
Strengthens identity and sense of belonging
Builds confidence to speak in supported contexts
Develops respectful participation in tikanga practices
Encourages empathy and relational awareness
Promotes pride in language and cultural learning

🎓 MĀ TE KAIAKO

Structured, curriculum-aligned unit ready to implement
Clear progression across language modes and competencies
Integrates tikanga and mātauranga meaningfully
Supports inclusive, mana-enhancing classroom culture
Provides scaffolded assessments with marking guidance

NGĀ HUA Ō ROTO What's Included

Within this unit you will have everything you need to confidently deliver a high-quality, engaging te reo Māori unit - thoughtfully designed to reduce planning time while strengthening learning outcomes.

Each component is structured, practical, and aligned to curriculum expectations, ensuring clarity for kaiako and meaningful progression for ākonga.

📋 MĀHERE AKO - FULL UNIT PLAN

A complete unit plan for your department, including curriculum links, unit rationale, learning intentions, and teaching approaches aligned to the appropriate learning level and quality assurance requirements.

📚 LESSON SLIDES AND SEQUENCING

Structured lesson sequencing with ready-to-use slides and clear facilitation guidance for kaiako. Includes Ākonga instructions and content explanations aligned to the unit’s objectives and learning progression.

🎯 INTEGRATED LANGUAGE MODES

A range of interactive games and activities with kaiako and Ākonga instructions that reinforce learning across the ara reo. Includes guidance for adapting or creating additional activities using Poutawa platforms.

📝 ĀKONGA EVALUATION & FEEDBACK

Formative feedback tools to track Ākonga engagement and learning throughout the unit, alongside summative evaluation templates that support reporting and inform future teaching and learning decisions.