He Kākano Ahau

He Kākano Ahau – Taku Tūrangawaewae invites senior ākonga to explore identity, whakapapa, and belonging through deeper and more expressive use of te reo Māori. Designed for NCEA Level 2 learners, this unit centres on connection to people and place as foundations of identity, grounded in the whakataukī “Hokia ki ō maunga, kia purea ai koe e ngā hau a Tāwhirimātea.”

Through themes such as ancestry, whenua, memory, and lived experience, ākonga strengthen their ability to recount events, describe perspectives, and express ideas using increasingly flexible and descriptive language across a range of contexts.

Learning moves beyond simple narrative into more layered and purposeful kōrero, where students interpret stories, respond to perspectives, and communicate with greater depth and confidence. 

As fluency develops, ākonga recognise that identity is shaped through whakapapa and connection, drawing on mātauranga Māori to honour their past while expressing who they are in the present.