Immersion Māori Language Courses 

For over 20 years the Commission has supported marae-based Māori language immersion courses. Courses are currently funded by the Mā Te Reo fund. 

Courses target those who use the Māori language as an everyday medium of tuition and/or communication and aim to increase the use and competence of Māori by speakers.

Māori is the only language spoken and it's expected participants have a reasonable grasp of the language. Courses cater to as many as 120 people and assist you to:

• use Māori confidently, effectively and appropriately;
• negotiate the subtleties of the language such as the use of allusion and idiom.

Courses focus on language development and everyone is able to work at their own pace with the support of tutors. Participants are grouped according to level of fluency. Classes involve small group sessions and language-based activities in:

• grammar;
• comprehension;
• translation;
• finding alternative ways of expressing an idea in Māori;
• use of idiom;
• speaking exercises;
• widening knowledge on the meaning and application of proverbs.

Participants may work in large groups and:

• listen to first-language speakers discussing familiar words/phrases;
• discuss and have clarified areas of language which may cause difficulty.

The pool of tutors includes:

Prof. Tīmoti Kāretu - Ngāi Tūhoe           Waihoroi Shortland - Ngāti Hine, Te Aupōuri, Ngā Puhi
Anita Moke - Ngāti Hikairo                    Rāhera Shortland - Ngā Puhi
Hīria Tūmoana - Ngāi Tūhoe                  Scott Morrison - Ngāti Whakaue 
Wayne Ngata - Ngāti Ira                        Wharehuia Milroy - Ngāi Tūhoe

Julian Wilcox - Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngā Puhi, Te Arawa
Pānia Papa - Ngāti Korokī/Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta

Students move in groups from tutor to tutor in a circuit. Evenings comprise large group sessions with speakers who discuss issues or teach waiata.

What to bring:

The courses are conducted on marae so participants need to bring personal belongings sufficient for five days. We recommend you bring pens, paper, Māori dictionaries etc.

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