Reo Māori resources for pēpi

Whānau from He Waka Kōrero have used all kinds of resources to support them with te reo
Māori planning. We’ve created a list of them to share with other whānau.

Kupu + phrases / Language domains

● “Māori at home” - a book by Scotty and Stacey Morrison. This book is for whānau
wanting to use te reo Māori at home with tamariki. The book includes words, phrases
and ideas for common whānau routines like mealtimes, before school, going to the
beach etc. You can ask your local library for a copy or buy it -
https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/maori-at-home-9780143771470
● “Kei roto i te whare” is a free PDF that has phrases for routines like kai time, bed time,
praising and more. Head to pages Pages 29 - 40. Get the link for download here -
https://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/o-matou-mohiotanga/te-reo-maori/kei-roto-i-te-whare-reprinte
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● A whole resource related to kai and food -
https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/resources/toi-te-kupu-he-papakupu-toiora
● Ngai Tahu have a lot of downloadable resources for using reo Māori in the home. They
relate to routines and places in the home and whānau -
http://www.kmk.maori.nz/downloads
● Great resource for teachers in ECE / kindy. Lots of booklets with phrases for different
play activities and common activities at kindy, emotions etc -
https://ako.ac.nz/knowledge-centre/ki-te-hoe-indigenising-practice/resource-set-te-reo-m
aori-rerenga-korero-and-waiata/
● Taringa podcast - Te reo ki te pēpi - They talk about phrases and kupu you can use with
pēpi https://www.taringapodcast.com/e/taringa-ep-174-kupu-kupu-kupu-te-reo-ki-te-pepi/
● Te reo o te Pā Harakeke - Loads of ideas in here. This was a research project
interviewing lots of whānau who are fluent speakers. They explore barriers, solutions,
tips and resources -
http://www.teipukarea.maori.nz/assets/Docs/Te-Reo-o-te-Pa-Harakeke-Resource-Book-F
inal-AUG-21.pdf

Karakia

● Ask whānau for karakia from your whānau, hapū and iwi. These will help pēpi to learn
the reo, mita, names, places, pūkenga, pūrākau, tūpuna in their whakapapa.
● Karakia booklet with karakia timatanga, kai and closing -
https://ako.ac.nz/knowledge-centre/ki-te-hoe-indigenising-practice/ki-te-hoe-indigenising-
practice-nga-karakia-me-nga-waiata-booklet/
● Bedtime karakia written by Scotty Morisson. Maimoa Creative have made a beautiful
free printable version -
 https://maimoa.nz/collections/free-downloads/products/free-printable-download-karakia-a
io-ana-te-rangi
● Ko te pū - A karakia you can do as a waiata that shares te timatanga / the beginning of
the world and where we come from. This video shares the waiata and an explanation -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNg6gjmoL_U
● “Māori at home” pukapuka by Scotty and Stacey Morrison have karakia for kai

Waiata

● Ask your whānau, hapū, iwi for waiata from home. These will help pēpi to learn the reo,
mita, names, places, pūkenga, pūrākau, tūpuna in their whakapapa.
● Booklets from iwi across the mōtu that share waiata and pepeha. See if there is one from
your iwi -
https://ako.ac.nz/knowledge-centre/ki-te-hoe-indigenising-practice/resource-set-ki-te-hoe
-indigenising-practice-nga-iwi-o-niu-tireni/
● A collection of Oriori with descriptions, translations and recordings from Ngai Tahu -
https://www.hakui.nz/oriori-old
● Kia ūkaipo te reo - An album by Kounga for tamariki
● Pipi Mā - available on spotify and young tamariki love it
● Tohora nui - Fun waiata that helps to learn nui, roa, momona / big, long, fat etc. These
kupu are maths and literacy concepts
● Homai tō poho
● ‘Te Reo Singalong’ YouTube channel
● Taringa podcast about oriori -
https://www.taringapodcast.com/e/taringa-ep-251-tikanga-101-oriori/
● Sing the Māori alphabet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiI7BIZLLwM
●

Kēmu | Games

● Peek-a-boo in te reo - great for responsive interactions with pēpi -

https://www.takai.nz/find-resources/activities/peekaboo/
● Phrases like “Where are your ears?” and “what’s in the bag?” are games we can play
with pēpi that help them grow language - Check out page 37 for phrase ideas for games
-
https://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/o-matou-mohiotanga/te-reo-maori/kei-roto-i-te-whare-reprinte
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●

Pukapuka for pēpi

Books and authors

● Taurite Māori pukapuka – black and white board books with Māori imagery relating to
pan-tribal pūrākau. No words in the book -
https://www.tautitotito.com/shop/taurite-maaori-pukapuka
● Hard books in te reo by Kitty Brown and Kirsten Parkinson – Names of pukapuka
include: Kānohi, Mahi, Ahua - http://www.reopepi.co.nz/
● Kuwi & Friends Māori picture dictionary by Pania Papa
● Tangi Ana te Pere - Kahungunu mita
● Nou te Ao, e Hika e! - Karena Kelly (Oh the places you’ll go by Dr Seuss)
● Xoe Hall’s books - Hineahuone, Te Kohu Ātahu, me He Aroha Pūmau (the
illustrations are all pretty high contrast so exciting for smallish bubs to look at)
● Gavin Bishop board books - Mihi, E Hoa, me Koro
● Kei Hea te Hipi Kākāriki, Hairy Maclary - translations of English books that have
good repetition
● Aiare - Have really fun and playful reo - https://www.aiare.co.nz/
● Mihi - Gavin Bishop - good prompts to kōrero and share your own pepeha with pēpi

Websites, publishers, organisations, kaupapa that do pukapuka

● Ministry of Education, hardbooks series from 2003

● Huia Publishers have lots of te reo Māori pukapuka. They have great sales a couple of
times a year.
● Local Runanga iwi resources – Get in contact and see what they have.
● Homeschools can get access to free pukapuka
● The Warehouse has a small range of middle priced reo Māori pukapuka
● The Māori language commission are translating 100 pukapuka in to te reo (not all are
pēpi aged) - https://www.kotahiraupukapuka.org.nz/

Make your own pukapuka

● Ranginui and Papatūānuku printable mini book -

https://www.takai.nz/find-resources/articles/pakiwaitara-ranginui-and-papatuanuku/
● Make your own pepeha booklet -
https://greengrubsgardenclub.com/2015/05/mihipepeha-one-cut-book-template/
●

Videos / Media
● A Māui Te Tipua: Youtube video of lots of stories of Māui in te reo Māori -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5COowHKecJw
●

Apps

● Kupu - an app where you take a photo and it shows you the te reo māori word -
https://kupu.co.nz/

Podcasts

● Taringa - Te reo ki te pēpi - They talk about phrases and kupu you can use with pēpi
https://www.taringapodcast.com/e/taringa-ep-174-kupu-kupu-kupu-te-reo-ki-te-pepi/
● Taringa - Tikanga 101 - Whānau pēpi - Māori birthing practices -
https://www.taringapodcast.com/e/taringa-ep-184-tikanga-101-whanau-pepi/

Facebooks groups

● Māori 4 grown ups - https://www.facebook.com/groups/Maori4GrownUps

● Hei Reo Whānau - Phrases, sharing experiences, resources -
https://www.facebook.com/ heireowhanau/
● ‘Whānau Reo’ has videos and phrases for different routines like cleaning or school pick
up
● Tākai - Lots of games and ideas for tamariki - https://www.facebook.com/takaivillage
● Everyday Māori - Hēmi Kelly

Instagram

● Awanui Te Huia is doing her psychology PhD around te reo Māori. She shares amazing
tips that help shift our mindsets for learning te reo Māori -
https://www.instagram.com/awanuitehuia/
● Maimoa Creative - https://www.instagram.com/maimoa.creative/
● Moshimoshi classroom - https://www.instagram.com/moshi_moshi_classroom/?hl=en
● Everyday Māori - Hēmi Kelly
●

Boosting confidence to kōrero

● “Kei roto i te whare” is a free PDF that has helpful tips on growing confidence to kōrero
Māori. Get the link for download here -
https://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/o-matou-mohiotanga/te-reo-maori/kei-roto-i-te-whare-reprinte
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