Te Kōhanga Reo is a Māori development initiative, aimed at maintaining and strengthening Māori language and philosophies within a cultural framework inspired by Māori elders in 1982.

Ko te mokopuna he taonga tino whakahirahira
Ahakoa ōna tau,
Tōna whakapapa,

Tōna ira tangata
Me ōna pūmanawatanga.

The Kōhanga Reo National Trust was established in 1982. Its aims were to manage the kaupapa (philosophy) of the Kōhanga Reo movement and to facilitate a partnership between the whānau and Government Departments.
The Trust, as the governing body, has therefore had a key role in providing the support needed by Kōhanga Reo. This support has involved specific investment in mokopuna, whānau, and their cultural infrastructure of language, kinship, relationship management, whänau learning, whānau decision-making, and community interdependence.
It has also involved supporting the educational, health and communication needs of Kōhanga children and whānau so that they can successfully participate in and contribute towards the growth of Kōhanga Reo.

Guiding Principles

It is the right of the Māori child to enjoy learning in the Mäori language within the bosom of the whānau
It is the right of the whānau to nurture and care for the mokopuna
It is the obligation of the Hapū to ensure that the whānau is strengthened to carry out its responsibilities.
It is the obligation of the Government under the Treaty of Waitangi to fulfill the aspirations of the Māori people for its future generations

Whānau Card

Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board is excited to announce the release of Te Kōhanga Reo Whānau Card.

Te Kōhanga Reo Whānau Card is a discount card that can be used at ITM (Independent Timber Merchants), Noel Leemings, Bond & Bond and Paint Tech. All whānu who use the card will receive a discount on the purchase. All they need to do is, shop at one of our providers stores, select the item/s they wish to purchase, take them to the counter, present the card to the cashier and the discounts will occur instantly.

Maori schools show steady roll increase

Christchurch Maori immersion schools are bucking the national trend of falling rolls.

Education Ministry figures show pupils attending kura kaupapa Maori schools reached a peak of 6272 in 2007.

The number of enrolled pupils has dropped 4.1 per cent to 6015 this year. The number of kura kaupapa schools has increased from 13 in 1992 to 73 now.

UN report gives kohanga reo centres a big tick

A UN education report has commended New Zealand's kohanga reo early childhood centres for playing an important role in challenging discrimination and building a more multicultural national identity.

New website

Te Kohanga Reo National Trust is proud to present its new website, over the coming months we envisiage growning the site to include more and more whanau content.

Please feel free to have a look around and come back to see any new and exciting updates.
Naku noa na,
Web Administrator

Dame Iritana Te Rangi Tawhiwhirangi CNZM, MBE

Kei ngā kōhanga reo puta i te motu tēnā anō tātou katoa.
E mahara iho ana, he waka ka urutomo;
He ika rere ki Hikurangi rā ia.
“I thought the canoe was securely moored;
But it came like a flying fish to Hikurangi.”

Our kōka Iritana Tawhiwhirangi was honoured with the title of Dame in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours. This was an acknowledgement of her services to Maori Education. Te Kohanga Reo National Trust Board and staff, organised an invitation only evening , in acknowledgement of this high attainment. It is a culmination of a number of honours and awards that Iritana has received over the years, including an Honorary Doctorate of Literature from Victoria University. The evening was held at the Wellington Town Hall on Monday 7 December 2009.

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