Unit 1 Lesson 1

Ko Wai Au? Grounding identity in whakapapa, rangatahi voice, and whānau commitments

We slow the opening wānanga right down: kaiako model how whakapapa, whenua, and kōrero tuku iho give direction. Rangatahi voices from Koroneihana become evidence, not inspiration alone. Ākonga leave with mapped connections, purposeful commitments, and a guided interview plan ready to take home to a whānau member so the learning continues beyond the classroom.

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Focus Pātai for the whole wānanga

How does whakapapa show up in the choices I make for my whānau, kura, and hapori?
Whose stories and responsibilities am I carrying with me into this learning?
What evidence will prove I am strengthening mana motuhake for those people?

Return to these questions at each transition; they also anchor the end-of-lesson commitments.

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Learning Intentions (kaiako version)

Guide ākonga to interrogate rangatahi testimony, record their own whakapapa networks, and translate that knowledge into action with their whānau.

Surface whakapapa links (whenua, whānau, aspirations) that anchor identity and wellbeing.
Analyse Koroneihana rangatahi kōrero for values, kupu, and leadership messages.
Co-design and rehearse a respectful interview with a whānau member using the Identity Map Interview handout.
Design whānau-connected commitments that can be captured as Mātainuku/Mātairea evidence.

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Success Criteria (ākonga-facing)

I can show two connections that give me strength and explain why.
I can quote a rangatahi from the documentary and connect their kōrero to my own story.
I can describe how I will interview a whānau member respectfully and what questions will guide me.
I can outline a whānau commitment or action that proves I am protecting whakapapa.

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Te Mātaiaho threads visible in this lesson

Tangata Whenuatanga · PS4: Ākonga establish identity anchors and document reciprocal obligations.
Mātauranga Māori: Whakapapa me te whanaungatanga vocabulary and storytelling protocols are explicitly taught.
Te Tiriti-honouring practice: Kīngitanga rangatahi demonstrate mana motuhake in action; ākonga identify parallels in their hapori.

Effective from: Term 1 2026 refresh · Review: 8 Poutū-te-rangi 2026

👩‍🏫 Teaching Instructions – Koroneihana Rangatahi Documentary (3:43)

Distribute the Koroneihana Rangatahi Companion before pressing play. This RNZ clip centres rangatahi reflections on what the Māori King movement means to them.

Before viewing: Use the vocabulary preview to teach kupu (mana motuhake, turangawaewae, whakapapa).
During viewing: Pause at 0:45, 1:55, and 2:55 to complete the guided prompts (identity quote capture, values spotlight, leadership connections).
After viewing: Transition straight into the identity map planning page and whānau kōrero prompt.
Formative checkpoint: Collect the quote-response strip, belonging barometer, and draft whakapapa map sketch from the companion as Mātainuku evidence.

Haerenga Ako – Lesson Flow (75 minutes)

1. Whakatūwhera Wānanga · Holding each other’s whakapapa (15 mins)

Begin with karakia/pepeha that centres collective responsibility. Model a succinct mihi: pepeha + one connection that grounds you today, then explicitly name how you will hold students’ kōrero with care.

Teacher moves

Co-design tikanga for sharing (confidentiality responses, mihi of gratitude, student opt-in/out signals).
Use the companion sentence stems (Ko … ahau, e hono ana au ki …) for ākonga who need structured language.
Capture exemplar phrasing on chart paper so it can be revisited during the scenario lab.

Differentiation: Provide reflection cards for writers and offer audio-recording for students who prefer oral responses.

2. Guided Viewing – Rangatahi Voices from Koroneihana (20 mins)

Prime ākonga with the companion’s vocabulary preview and hypothesis prompts. Pause at 0:45, 1:55, and 2:55; at each pause, pairs complete the quote capture + belonging barometer before sharing one finding aloud.

Evidence to bank: quote-response strips, kupu list, and charted values statements that link to student whakapapa.

3. Waihanga Studio – Personal Whakapapa Maps (30 mins)

Run this as a structured 3-part workshop so every learner produces evidence-rich artefacts. Set up three stations before class: Plan (companion planner), Design (large-format map template), and Rehearse (storytelling/audio corner).

Mini-conference (5 mins): Model the exemplar map, narrate the thinking, and co-construct a success rubric (manaakitanga, whakapapa accuracy, quote integration). Students highlight the sections they must complete in the Identity Map Planner.
Creation rotation (15 mins): Learners move through stations in whānau pairs. Provide the new Whakapapa Map Template for large-format output, an icon bank, and sentence frames (see companion toolkit). Offer alternative formats (audio reflection, bilingual paragraph, collage) as needed.
Gallery coaching (10 mins): Pause everyone midway for a quick gallery walk. Students leave sticky-note feedback using the prompts “I see…”, “I wonder…”, “Have you considered…?”. Photograph draft stages for Mātainuku moderation.

Teacher checkpoints: (a) Confer with each ākonga to capture how one connection provides strength; record exemplar phrasing for moderation. (b) Verify every map links whānau, whenua, hapori, mentors, and future aspirations to a specific quote/kupu captured earlier.

Interview rehearsal (10 mins): Introduce the Identity Map Interview Handout and model how to ask the whānau-focused pātai with manaakitanga. Students practise in pairs—one as interviewer, one as “whānau member”—then swap. Capture any kupu or tikanga reminders they want to take home.

Home interview briefing (5 mins): Learners record who they will kōrero with and confirm a time. Role-play explaining the purpose of the interview, discuss tikanga (consent, confidentiality, manaakitanga), and remind them to bring the completed handout next wānanga so Lesson 2’s mātauranga stations are fully informed.

4. Whakawhiti Kōrero – Commitments Board (10 mins)

Close with an opt-in sharing circle. Ākonga present one connection alongside a rangatahi quote that guided their map, then co-design class protocols for protecting each other’s stories.

Output: Capture the commitments board (photo/audio) for Mātainuku evidence and note which whānau should receive a follow-up message.

📊 Formative Assessment, Mātairea Support & Moderation Workflow

Mātainuku evidence you can hold in your hands

Collect at least three artefacts per student and note the progression language you will use when tagging uploads.

Identity Map (photograph + annotation): shows whakapapa links, why each connection matters, and one quote anchoring it.
Quote-response strip: rangatahi voice interpreted through personal values or responsibilities.
Scenario action statement: outlines how whakapapa-informed decisions improve outcomes for kura/whānau/hapori.

Mātairea differentiation moves

Scaffold: bilingual sentence frames, visual icon banks, and optional pre-recorded mihi for ākonga easing into public sharing.
Extend: invite students to research a Kīngitanga rangatira, mapping parallels between leadership traits and their commitments board entry.
Wellbeing: allow alternative contexts for students navigating sensitive whakapapa; emphasise chosen whānau and provide private submission options.

Moderation tip: Tag uploads with U1L1-identity and note whether evidence demonstrates empathy, reciprocity, or leadership for Mātairea tracking.

Kaiako checkpoints after each phase

During the viewing pause points, check that each learner can name the kupu/value they captured and why it matters.
In the waihanga studio, conference with every student: ask “Which connection are you protecting and how will others see that on your map?”
At commitments board, record audio reflections from a selection of ākonga describing how whakapapa now informs their next action.

🧺 Resources, Whānau Partnerships & Next Steps

Print & preparation checklist

Identity Map Interview Handout (one per ākonga + digital copy for whānau follow-up).
Koroneihana Rangatahi Companion (ākonga + kaiako copies).
Quote wall materials (butcher paper, magnetic board, or digital padlet) for values capture.
Art supplies or devices for whakapapa maps; ensure accessibility accommodations (text, audio, tactile resources).
Recording device for mihi/whānau stories if collecting oral evidence.
Optional extension: select a second rangatahi identity clip from the curated playlist and replace VIDEO_ID in the extension embed once permissions are confirmed.

Whānau & hapori connections

Send a pānui summarising the lesson focus, attach the Identity Map Interview Handout, and highlight three whānau pātai to prioritise. Invite whānau to contribute stories, artefacts, or guidance—ākonga log at least one insight in their scenario lab notes.

Collection reminder: Gather strength cards next lesson, photograph for Mātainuku evidence, and return originals home.

Homework / extension pathways

Complete the whānau interview using the Identity Map Interview Handout and record kupu/stories for use in Lesson 2’s mātauranga stations.
Photograph or record a place of significance, attaching a short explanation for the commitments board.
Draft a proposal for a kura initiative that honours partnership (builds toward the scenario lab presentation).
Preview readings in the Traditional Knowledge Primer to ease the transition into Lesson 2.

Optional Extension – Follow-up Session (30–40 mins)

Run this extension to deepen identity comparisons once the core lesson artefacts are secure. The focus is on listening to a second rangatahi story, contrasting viewpoints, and refreshing commitments. The fuller “Whakapapa in Action” scenario lab will move into Lesson 2 once the companion resources are finalised.

Optional Viewing – Rangatahi Identity Perspectives (20 mins)

Play Here We Are | Te Manahou (RNZ) to introduce takatāpui rangatahi experiences of identity and belonging. Provide a content heads-up and reiterate group tikanga before viewing.

Repeat the guided viewing routine using the companion: capture quotes, update belonging barometer ratings, and extend the kupu list with takatāpui terminology.
Use the double-entry journal prompts in the Identity Map Toolkit (Video 1 vs Video 2) to note recurring values and new challenges voiced.
Invite short pair kōrero: “What responsibilities did Te Manahou highlight that we have not yet listed on our commitments board?”

Evidence: File second quote strips with the originals, annotate changes on the belonging barometer (companion p. 3), and add at least one new commitment drawn from the video.

Reflection & Commitment Refresh (10–15 mins)

Hold a quick fishbowl: two students share how the second clip reshaped one strand of their map while peers listen for evidence.
Update the commitments board with one action that centres takatāpui or intersectional identities (photograph for moderation).
Preview next lesson: “We’ll take these commitments into a full scenario lab next wānanga—bring whānau insights to support the plan.”

Note: Hold onto the scenario planner prompts—Lesson 2 will provide a dedicated resource pack to support the full civic transfer lab.

Whakaaro - Reflection

Ko wai au? We are shaped by the threads of whakapapa and the futures we dream together. Today ākonga listened to rangatahi carrying the mantle of Kīngitanga and located their own voices within the weave.

“Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini” – our strength stands because of our collective whakapapa.

Cross-Curricular Extensions

Social Studies

Map whānau migration pathways alongside timelines for Kīngitanga and mana motuhake movements.

English

Craft a spoken word piece weaving rangatahi quotes with personal reflections.

Arts

Create tukutuku or digital motifs representing belonging, whenua, and aspirations.

STEM

Explore data visualisation of whakapapa networks; introduce graph theory for interconnected relationships.

Unit 1: Te Ao Māori - Cultural Identity & Knowledge Systems