Tikanga Ora Reo Ora
Waikato-Tainui places a strong emphasis on the importance of Te Reo and Tikanga - it is one of the key strategic objectives of Whakatupuranga 2050. Tikanga Ora Reo Ora is the strategy for Waikato-Tainui. It encourages the use and preservation of Reo and Tikanga.
The overall aim of the strategy is:
"Whakahokia te reo ki ngaa tara aa-whare. Haapaingia te tikanga ki te tuanui o te whare"
- The language echoes in the walls of our houses
- Cultural practices are held in high regard
- The language and cultural practices are etched in the hearts of the people in 2050
- The language and cultural practices are strong within homes, marae, schools and communities
- The Waikato dialect thrives
- The cultural practices of Waikato are upheld
There are a wide range of Tikanga Ora, Reo Ora programmes offered through the Reo & Maatauranga team at Waikato-Tainui:
Te Reo Uukaipoo
Te Reo Uukaipoo is a series of tailored resource packs covering many different contexts where we will work with whaanau to ensure they are supported by a dedicated kaiako to encourage the use of te reo and tikanga in the comforts of their homes and their communities.
“Tukua te reo kia rere, kia uukaipoo anoo ai i roto i oo taatou kaainga”
Te Reo Kaakaho
Te Reo Kaapuia is a series of waananga that aims to strengthen the reo, tikanga and tribal knowledge of our kaiako reo Maaori across all the teaching sectors.
“Ki te kotahi te kaakaho ka whati, ki te kaapuia e kore e whati”
Te Reo Aratau
Te Reo Aratau is a series of waananga that caters for rangatahi who are looking at advancing and promoting their use of te reo Maaori and tikanga throughout a wide range of contexts dear to their hearts. Previous waananga have included Te reo o te wai, te reo o te raakau, te reo Whitiora, te reo puoro, te reo Takapaurua.
"Ka whakamiri noa i toona aratau. E tia nei he tupu pua hou”
Te Pae Kaakaa is a series of six waananga across our tribal marae covering a wide range of tribal reo, tikanga, koorero tuku iho, whakapapa for the future upholders of our paepae identified and endorsed by our marae.
“Kia hoihoi anoo ngaa paepae i te ketekete a te kaakaa”
Ngaa waha-puu o Waikato, o Tainui waka
Ngaa waha-puu is a podcast series where our Punenga Reo, Punenga Maatauranga will sit with renowned tribal members to have a discussion on their upbringing, their experiences and roles they play within our tribal structure. These will be live podcasts where we encourage tribal members to connect and engage in the discussions.
“Waikato, Tainui waka ka puta, Waikato, Tainui waka ka ora. He reo tuku, he reo koorero”
Te Huinga Taniwha
Te Huinga Taniwha is a series of waananga that aims to support whaanau, marae, hapuu, kaupapa aa iwi to create resources and establish a repository of knowledge to be retained as treasures. At the completion of resources created we hold Te Huinga Taniwha as a platform for our whaanau to present their journey of resource creation.
“Ka ore ko te unuhanga o te taniwha i te rua”
Upoko Ariki – Kiingitanga
Upoko Ariki is a resource that was created to give an insight on Te Whare Tapu o Pootatau Te Wherowhero. This resource profiles each of our Upoko Ariki and includes additional information to enhance our understanding of Kiingitanga.


For more information please do not hesitate to contact our Reo & Maatauranga team via email [email protected] or feel free to contact us individually.
Jason Kereopa – Pou Reo, Pou Maatauranga
[email protected]
Te Oko Horoi Totorewa – Punenga Reo & Maatauranga
[email protected]