Question 1

What is Reo Kōrero?

Accepted Answer

He Reo Kōrero | He Reo Ora

Reo Kōrero is a global movement building a network of people who kōrero Māori every day, wherever we are in the world.
Everyone is welcome - no matter how much reo you have, or who you are learning with. Ko te kōrero te mea nui.
We offer Ataarangi ONLINE and in person reo and tikanga programmes to support you to grow your confidence in your reo Māori. It is one of many pathways to support you as a member of  the Reo Kōrero movement.

Question 2

What is the difference between Te Huanui and Te Kura Raunui?

Accepted Answer

Te Huanui (Ataarangi ONLINE) is for anyone wanting to learn the reo.

Te Kura Raunui (Ataarangi ONLINE) is for staff at our primary and secondary schools.  It is government funded.

Question 3

Why learn with Te Ataarangi?

Accepted Answer

There are many reasons why thousands of people choose to learn with Te Ataarangi:

1️⃣ It Works — Proven Results
 For more than 40 years, Te Ataarangi has been one of the most effective ways to help people speak Māori  producing more than 10,000 fluent speakers of the reo.

2️⃣ Immersion That Builds Fluency
 Every class — whether in person or online — follows Te Ataarangi’s unique approach: rākau-based learning and full immersion in te reo Māori. You learn at your own pace, in small groups of 10 to 12 people at the same level as you.

3️⃣ Reo-speaking Networks
 Te Ataarangi is about more than just classes.  It’s about building communities of speakers. Reo Kōrero is founded on the understanding that te reo Māori thrives when used in reo-speaking communities. Every initiative helps build and nurture these communities — wherever you may be in the world.

4️⃣ Expertise You Can Trust
 Dr Ruakere Hond has been with Te Ataarangi from almost the very beginning. He is one of Aotearoa’s foremost experts in language communities and adult reo acquisition. Reo Kōrero is committed to sharing this mātauranga and experience with every learner.

5️⃣ A Global Movement
 Reo Kōrero supports all indigenous peoples in revitalising their reo as living languages. We use social platforms to share this knowledge and reach audiences around the world. When you learn with us, you become part of that global movement.

Question 4

Why Join Te Huanui?

Accepted Answer

✅ Kōrero Māori: You will be speaking te reo Māori from the very first class!

✅ Fits your life: Join from wherever you are, and at a time that works for you.

✅  Safe Space: Practise on mute while others have a go!  Repetition is the key to fluency

✅ No Pressure: No tests or exams, just kōrero.

✅ Build a reo-speaking network: Join a breakout room with whānau, work mates, friends, or make new reo Māori speaking friends!

✅  It works: 1,000+ people proved this in 2025 alone!

Question 5

What are the Levels?

Accepted Answer

Level One
The twenty lessons commence with a single word — rākau.
Although rākau is a familiar term, it is introduced to ākonga in a new context specific to this programme. Without translation or explicit explanation, its meaning is demonstrated through actions that enable comprehension. Rākau serves as the foundational term for the Cuisenaire rods, which are incorporated into every lesson throughout Level 1 to support structured, interactive language development.

Focus on Fluency
From the very first lesson, ākonga build fluency and steadily expand their vocabulary, starting with
10–12 new words per lesson, increasing to 20–24 by the end of Level 1.

Normalising Immersion
Feeling comfortable in immersion is a key stage of developing oral proficiency. Students come to understand that learning can occur naturally through practice and informal engagement within immersion settings. This is empowering for the ākonga.

Relying on Listening and Speaking
Adult learners often depend on reading and grammar. Te Ataarangi kaiako shift the focus to prioritise speaking and listening, without reducing literacy, so learners can function more confidently in reo- speaking communities. Making Mistakes Adults often find mistakes unsettling, yet recognising gaps in real-life interaction is how natural language acquisition occurs.

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Level Two
Vocabulary broadens as each lesson is presented through real-life contexts. While new sentence structures are introduced and practised repeatedly to build familiarity, the primary emphasis shifts toward lived language, extending activity beyond the constraints of structured lessons.

Diverse Contexts
Lessons currently centre on whānau and community use. The key objective is to align reo use with the lived realities of ākonga as much as possible.

Repetition
Ākonga who have completed Level 1 continue to rely on repetition as a core learning tool. As lessons progress, greater priority is given to less constrained and more natural conversational language.

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Level Three
At this stage, lesson design undergoes a significant shift. Conversational interaction becomes the central focus, with contexts aligned to social relationships, personal characteristics, life histories, and the formal use of mihi.

Social Relationships
The twenty-week series revolves around the lives of a single whānau, their strengths, challenges, iwi identity, and careers. This content serves as a relatable proxy for ākonga to reflect on and discuss their own lives.

Formal Language
Every two weeks, the final segment of each lesson focuses on formal reo use, with ākonga developing mihi for the family member who has been the focus of the preceding lessons.

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Level Four
The current structure of Level 4 centres on iwi reo development, drawing on pūrākau, karakia,
pepeha, and metaphor. To date, this framework has been implemented with one iwi. We are working to develop this level and open it to the wider, reo speaking community in 2026 through Te Huanui.

Question 6

What Level am I?

Accepted Answer

We offer Levels 1 (beginners) to 3 (conversational), and advanced reo levels are currently under development.  You’ll be placed with a small group of akonga at the same level as you.  If you’re not sure have a chat with our team.  If you want to focus on your fluency and confidence to kōrero we recommend you try a lower level.

Question 7

Will I still feel connected to my tutor and classmates if I learn online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We know that personal connection is vital to the Te Ataarangi kaupapa. That’s why we invested more than five years to create our Ataarangi ONLINE programmes. Our online classes are small (10–12 learners), with the same kaiako and classmates each week. You’ll learn in breakout rooms (kopa-iti), which help you build close connections within your group. Many of our akonga say they feel just as connected online as they do in person - and the evidence shows that learning can be just as effective.

Question 8

Why learn te reo Māori online? Does it work?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  Ataarangi ONLINE works, and hundreds of akonga are right now using it to grow their reo. Here’s why so many people choose to learn with us online:

1️⃣ Learn from Top Kaiako Wherever You Are
 You’ll access some of the most experienced Ataarangi kaiako - no matter where they live. Our tutors deliver classes online so you can learn from the very best.

2️⃣ Practise More, Speak More
 The more you speak, the faster you learn. With Ataarangi ONLINE, you can practise out loud even while others are taking their turn. Simply mute your microphone! Many akonga say this is a huge advantage of learning online.

3️⃣ Flexibility — Learn Wherever Life Takes You
 Travelling? No problem. Take your device, find a stable WiFi connection, and you’re ready to go. And while we encourage full attendance, if you do miss a class you can catch up with the class recording.

4️⃣ Save Time and Money
 No travel and no venue costs means you save time and money. You may not need to arrange childcare, and your tamariki or mokopuna can even sit alongside you, hearing and using the reo with you.

5️⃣ Breakout Rooms — Build Whanaungatanga
 We’ve refined our use of Zoom to make the most of breakout rooms (kopa-iti). You can be placed in a room with whānau, friends, or workmates — and will return to the same breakout room each time. This helps build whanaungatanga and a supportive learning environment.

6️⃣ Reo from Your Region
 We can group learners by region and iwi and we can match you with tutors who share that identity and distinctive regional reo. Just let us know your rohe/iwi on your registration form.

7️⃣ Purpose-Built for Online Success
 Ataarangi ONLINE has been developed and refined over more than five years. We have trialled new online resources, explored the best Zoom features, and tested ways to support the rākau method online. We now have strong evidence that akonga build real connections and learn effectively online, and that evidence is growing with every learner.

Question 9

What if I make a mistake?

Accepted Answer

We love mistakes! Make as many as you can as it means you are learning.
We won’t correct you — you will start to correct yourself. That’s how the learning really sticks. You are building new pathways in your brain, and that builds your language ability. Mistakes are a very welcome part of your reo journey with us.

Question 10

What if I’m too nervous to speak?

Accepted Answer

The great thing about online learning is that you can practise the words and sentences on mute to yourself. You can hear yourself speaking and get comfortable before you kōrero in front of others.
We create a safe, supportive space where everyone is on the same waka and everyone is learning. It’s ok to be nervous and ok to make mistakes.
If you’re not ready to speak, you can simply shake your head or indicate this in some other way.  Your taiwhirinaki will understand and come back to you later.

Question 11

What if I don’t know anyone?

Accepted Answer

Kei te pai.  You’ll soon meet new friends, your reo Māori friends.
The space we create is one of manaaki,  care and support. You will feel welcomed and comfortable. After a few weeks, you’ll feel at home with your classmates.

Question 12

What if I was 'hopeless at the reo' in my last class?

Accepted Answer

Kei te pai.  It’s ok!

Ātaarangi is different from other methods you may have tried. It is designed to create speakers, not just learners. There is a big difference between knowing about the language and using the language.
Our kaiako will support you throughout the programme.  There are a lot of us. Through repetition and practice, your confidence will grow. Our online resources mean you can also practise outside of class.  This makes such a difference!

Question 13

Am I too old to learn?

Accepted Answer

Kāore! You are never too old to learn.
The Ātaarangi method is loved by so many of our pāhake / elders — and we love having our kuia and koroua in the class! They are often the cheekiest and make class lots of fun.
It may take a little more time or mahi, but we have seen the reo grow for many of our kaumātua through Ātaarangi.