Explore the many voices of te reo Māori.
Why do different iwi speak te reo Māori differently?
Kura Ako explores the unique dialects, histories, and identities carried through the many voices of te reo Māori.
“A fascinating and eye-opening exploration of the richness and diversity within te reo Māori.”
A Practical And Insightful Learning Experience
Kura Ako is a one-day, hands-on workshop where Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod shares insights from his doctoral research and personal journey studying Māori dialects.
While grounded in Ngāti Kahungunu research, this wānanga supports participants from all iwi, hapū, and communities to better understand, identify, and preserve dialectal variations within their own language environments.
Whether you are a learner, speaker, educator, researcher, or simply passionate about te reo Māori, Kura Ako creates an engaging and accessible space to explore how language reflects whakapapa, identity, history, and belonging.
You do not need linguistic or academic experience to participate.
What Participants Gain
Participants leave with:
greater understanding of Māori dialectal diversity
practical tools to recognise dialectal variations
insight into how language changes and evolves over time
deeper understanding of the relationship between dialect, whakapapa, and identity
strategies for preserving and supporting dialectal variation
confidence exploring language differences within their own iwi or community contexts
Suitable For
Kura Ako is suitable for:
te reo Māori learners and speakers
iwi and hapū language advocates
educators and researchers
marae and community leaders
whānau interested in language and identity
anyone passionate about the richness and diversity of te reo Māori
Why Kura Ako Matters
Dialect is more than pronunciation or vocabulary - it reflects whakapapa, migration, identity, history, and the lived experiences of our people.
Kura Ako creates space to better understand the diversity within te reo Māori and why protecting those differences matters for future generations.
This is not about right or wrong ways of speaking.
It is about understanding, appreciating, and preserving the many voices of te reo Māori.
“The workshop challenged me to think more deeply about language, identity, and belonging.”
“Kura Ako made dialects feel approachable, practical, and incredibly relevant.”
“Jeremy knows his stuff, this was his PhD topic. ”
Learn From Research And Real Experience
Learn alongside Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod as he shares:
practical approaches to recognising dialects
insights from doctoral research
language change and evolution
dialect preservation strategies
examples from across te ao Māori
connections between language, identity, and whakapapa
Upcoming Workshops
There are currently no Kura Ako workshops scheduled for 2026. If you’d like to be the first to hear about new dates and upcoming opportunities, we’d love you to sign up to our newsletter and stay in the loop.
Investment in your growth
Kura Ako supports participants to deepen their understanding of te reo Māori, strengthen connections to identity and whakapapa, and appreciate the richness of our many dialectal traditions.
Interested in co-hosting a Kura Ako wānanga or one of our other workshops in your rohe or hapori?
Email us at info@kauwaka.co.nz — we’d love to hear from you!
