Te Puna Reo o Te Uru
Weekly Te Reo Māori & Tikanga Wānanga
"Growing confidence through language, culture and connection."
Te Puna Reo o Te Uru has been created as a welcoming space for people who want to grow their confidence in Te Reo Māori and deepen their understanding of tikanga Māori in a supportive, real-world environment.
Hosted every Sunday at the Korowai by Hiria studio, these weekly wānanga are led by respected kaumātua and kuia, Sonny & Gloria Niha, who bring decades of lived experience, cultural knowledge and a genuine passion for sharing with others.
Rather than following a formal NZQA curriculum, our focus is on helping people build the confidence to naturally use Te Reo Māori in everyday life while learning the values, stories and tikanga that bring the language to life.
Whether you're taking your very first steps or continuing your learning journey, everyone is welcome.
Wānanga Details
Venue
Korowai by Hiria Studio
Day
Every Sunday during the school term
Time
10.00am – 12.00pm
Duration
2 hours
Commencing
Sunday 13 September 2026
Classes pause during each school holiday period before returning the following term.
Limited Numbers
To keep each session personal and interactive, places are limited to 10–15 participants.
This allows everyone the opportunity to ask questions, participate in kōrero and learn together in a relaxed environment.
Register Your Interest
We are now accepting registrations of interest for our inaugural intake.
Before classes begin, we'll host an in-person Registration & Meet the Kaiako Day on either Sunday 16 August or Sunday 23 August (date to be confirmed).
This is an opportunity to:
- Meet Sonny & Gloria Niha
- Learn more about the weekly wānanga
- Ask questions
- See whether Te Puna Reo o Te Uru is the right fit for your learning journey
- Complete your registration
There is no pressure or obligation—it's simply an opportunity to connect before the term begins.
Koha
Attendance is by koha.
Your koha contributes towards:
- Venue costs
- Learning resources
- Weekly class materials
- Supporting Sonny & Gloria's time and preparation
We believe learning should remain accessible while honouring the time, knowledge and commitment required to deliver each wānanga.
First Three Wānanga
Our opening weeks will focus on building strong cultural foundations together.
Week One
Tikanga Māori
Understanding the customs, values and practices that guide everyday life.
Week Two
Karakia
Learning the purpose, meaning and confidence to participate respectfully in karakia.
Week Three
Māori History
Exploring the stories, history and context that continue to shape Aotearoa today.
Future sessions will continue to evolve naturally through the interests and learning journey of the group.
Our Approach
Te Puna Reo o Te Uru is a community-based wānanga rather than a formal NZQA-accredited programme.
It offers something different—an opportunity to learn directly from respected kaumātua and kuia whose knowledge has been shaped through lived experience, whakapapa, community, and decades of speaking, teaching and living Te Reo Māori and tikanga.
Our wānanga encourage open discussion, genuine kōrero and the confidence to ask questions in a supportive environment. There is no expectation to be fluent—only a willingness to learn, participate and grow alongside others.
Continuing Your Journey
There is no obligation to continue into the following term.
If you decide not to return, we simply ask for two weeks' notice so we can offer your place to someone else on our waiting list.
Our hope is to build a learning community that continues to grow together, one Sunday at a time.
Nau mai. Haere mai.
We look forward to welcoming you to Te Puna Reo o Te Uru, where language, culture and community come together through weekly kōrero and shared learning.