Te Ao Māori – showcasing values and connections

13 August 2021

Things look a little different at Primary ITO across on our new Te Ao Māori website.


Rōpū Whakangungu Ahuwhenua Ahumahi – Primary ITO – is making sure our online world reflects the different groups of people we work with.

“As tangata whenua, Māori have a unique connection to the land, water and sky,” says Primary ITO Māori Engagement Manager Matiu Julian.

“Our Te Ao Māori section of our website aims to show the links between all these and how learning can help build communities, and raise individual and collective productivity with opportunities to transition into higher-paying roles further enhancing the health and wellbeing of whanau.”

These pages are dedicated to showcasing the ongoing relationships and commitment to Te Ao Māori, underpinned by the values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and mana motuhake.

Matiu says Te Ao Māori is an area to celebrate some of the mahi Primary ITO is doing in partnership and to share the stories of our learners and employers.

“Te Ao Māori is a platform to celebrate, inform, inspire and acknowledge the many unsung heroes in our communities we work with to support and complement their workplace capability needs.

“Some of our learners and employers are sharing stories celebrating the many Māori achievements across the primary industries, including our involvement with Kura Kaupapa and Wharekura,” says Matiu.

In 2020, over 4000 Primary ITO learners identified as Māori. “There is much to celebrate including seeing a massive surge in apprenticeships being taken up by Māori and an increase for support to help our own reconnect to the whenua and moana. This is particularly for those who were affected by Covid and those looking for opportunities to create a better lifestyle for themselves.”

Explore more about our kaupapa here.