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🏔️ Ko tōku Maunga

Introduction to pepeha — connecting to your mountain

📚 Ngā Whāinga Ako — Learning Intentions

WALT (We Are Learning To):

WILF (What I'm Looking For):

"Hutia te rito o te harakeke, kei hea te kōmako e kō?"
If the heart of the flax is removed, where will the bellbird sing?

Discussion: What does this whakataukī mean? How does it connect to knowing who we are?

Lead-in question: "If someone asked you 'Who are you?' — what would you say beyond just your name?"

Explain: Pepeha is a way Māori introduce themselves by sharing connections to:

Key point: Pepeha tells people not just WHO you are, but WHERE you come from and what you CONNECT to.

Model example: Teacher shares their own pepeha (or a sample pepeha).

Sample Pepeha:

Ko Pirongia tōku maunga.
Ko Waipā tōku awa.
Ko Tainui tōku waka.
Ko Ngāti Maniapoto tōku iwi.
Nō Kirikiriroa ahau.
Ko Hemi tōku ingoa.

Today we focus on ONE line:

Ko [Maunga] tōku maunga.

Using a map of New Zealand (or Google Maps), find mountains near:
- Where you live now
- Where your family is from
- A place that's special to you
Choose ONE mountain as YOUR maunga
Write your sentence: "Ko ______ tōku maunga."
Practice saying it aloud to a partner

📝 Common NZ Mountains: Ruapehu, Taranaki, Pirongia, Maungatautari, Aoraki, Hikurangi, Kaukau, Te Aroha, Tongariro, Ngāuruhoe

Pair Share:

Class Circle: Go around the room — each student shares their maunga line.

🌟 Extension: Can you point in the direction of your maunga? Some people gesture towards their maunga when they say this line.

Exit Ticket: On a sticky note, write:

Preview next lesson: Next time we'll add the RIVER (awa) and WAKA to our pepeha!

🔹 Support:

🔸 Extension:

For students who aren't Māori or don't know their iwi connections, they can choose a mountain that's meaningful to them — where they live, where they were born, or a place they love.
Some students may have multiple mountains (one from each parent's side). This is fine! Use "ōku maunga" (plural) if needed: "Ko Ruapehu rāua ko Taranaki ōku maunga."
Connect with local iwi if possible to learn about the significant maunga in your area.
Pronunciation matters — model frequently and celebrate attempts!