About Te Ataarangi
The late Manukura Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira developed Te Ataarangi in 1980 to arrest the decline of the Maori Language identified in Richard Benton's Report on the Health of Te Reo 1975. The report showed that 95 per cent of Maori families were no longer speaking Maori in the home, it was effectively in its death throws. In 1981 Te Heikoko Mataira along with Ngoi Pewhairangi took their bag of rakau (cuisenaire rods) to Maori Affairs and showed how this mahi rakau could get people talking. This was the genesis of a movement to save Te Reo Maori by these courageous kuia. Their legacy continues today.... 'Moe mai ra e aku Koka'
This is total immersion where students gain confidence to speak Maori naturally, and fluently.
Students become part of a community that promotes and nurtures the language. The students support each other in the group learning that is Te Ataarangi.
Meet Our Educators
Rohatai Pewhairangi
Ngati Porou, Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Whare, Ngai Tuhoe.
Rohatai spent the first 3 years of her life in Tokomaru bay, her mother taking her to the south Island there after. Rohatai was raised in the english speaking mainstream system, but later gravitated toward her Maori ancestry with a passion. Her quest to learn the Maori language began in the 1980s, in secondary school at Te Wai Pounamu Maori Girls college, & developed further with her work in Kohanga reo, & later embarking on study using Te Ataarangi's methodology, in 2001. Rohatai continued her studies for another three years, and gained a Bachelor of Maori Immersion Teaching. She has taught Te Reo Maori in Whaingaroa - Raglan, Papatoetoe, Otahuhu, Te Aroha, Frankton, Ngaruawahia, Te Awamutu, and Hamilton. Rohatai currently runs online Zoom Maori Language sessions.
He Maimai Aroha: Sadly Rohatai passed away on 11 Apri 2023 surrounded by her whanau here at Kaingarua. Moe mai ra e taku makau, e kore e rutu nga roimata mohou
“The Maori language is Aotearoa’s taonga and we all have a responsibility to learn to speak it, and to use it in our everyday conversations. Through this action, we really cherish the gift that it is! ”
Ko Pine raua ko Rohatai i Rarotonga
Pine Campbell
Ngati Porou / Ngati Kahungunu
Travelling overseas with his young family to surf uncrowded waves meant he had to learn some of the local dialect to survive. In 1990 a realisation drew him back to Aotearoa to learn Te Reo Maori. In 1996 Pine found Te Ataarangi. He has a Post Graduate Diploma in Science Education and a Bachelor of Maori Immersion Teaching. Pine has taught Te Reo Maori since 2002 at Whaingaroa, Papatoetoe, Otahuhu, and Hamilton.
In 2017 Pine went on sabatical to prepare their land in Tokomaru Bay for a simpler life choice. A small home was built from locally grown and milled timber using local labour. It has a composting toilet, greywater and blackwater systems to reduce the effects on Papatuanuku and Tangaroa. A work / studio / wananga space was erected soon after.
The final piece of the construction dream was completed in October 2024 meaning Kaingarua is fully open to facilitate total immersion reo Maori seminar here in honour of Rohatai.
“As a Kaiako, if I am doing all the talking, I am not doing my job”
Ko te tino parakuihi a Pine i Rarotonga? ko te Papaea