Te Kūaha – The Doorway

Te Kūaha makes the crucial link between language and culture, with content covering te reo Māori pronunciation and expressions, tikanga Māori, and the history and values of the University.

The app is part of a wider programme of work to implement Te taonga nō tua whakarere, he taonga mō āpōpō A treasure from ancient times, and for tomorrow: The University of Auckland Language Plan for the Revitalisation of Te Reo Māori 2020–2025. 

The University of Auckland supports the crown’s Māori language strategy Maihi Karauna and the goal of having one million New Zealanders able to speak basic te reo Māori.

Te Kūaha has been developed collaboratively with staff, students and alumni who were engaged in developing the concept, sourcing materials, contributing voiceover and providing feedback.

Interactive features within the app support learning for pronunciation of Māori words, introductions, greetings, speeches and acknowledgements, waiata (songs), karakia (invocations and prayers), iwi (tribal groupings and authorities), local geographic features, marae and marae protocol of relevance to the University of Auckland.

One of the app’s key features is that it allows users to input their own personal information to create a customised introduction. Audio recording and play back features support pronunciation practice.

Links to Te Kūaha app in stores:

• The App Store (iOS)
• Google Play (Android)
• Microsoft Store (Windows)