Te reo Māori first, whānau first.
Building future generations together!
Join us in revitalising Te Ao Māori through the hearts, minds, and voice of our mokopuna, with an education rich in tikanga, Māoritanga, and wrapped in aroha.
who we are
Nau mai, haere mai
We welcome you to be a part of our whanau!
Te Āwhina Kōhanga Reo is a fully immersive early childhood education centre, dedicated to regenerating Māoritanga, tikanga Māori, and Te Reo Māori.
It’s a wonderful opportunity for mokopuna to start their journey in tikanga Māori, and share it with their whānau. This powerful foundation of language, customs, and values empowers tamariki of the past, the present, and the future.
Nurtured by our kaiako and with the constant input of their whānau, mokopuna of any background can grow with pride, identity and a deep sense of belonging.
Nurtured by our kaiako and with the constant input of their whānau, mokopuna of any background can grow with pride, identity and a deep sense of belonging.
our approach
He aha te āhua o te ako
What learning looks like
At Te Āwhina Kōhanga Reo, we use a wide range of activities to engage mokopuna, making their time with us as enriching and enjoyable as possible.
They are taught through play, storytelling, waiata, creative freedom, and shared responsibilities. These immersive experiences enable them to gain knowledge and learn language in a natural, gentle way. They develop a deep and confident sense of identity, belonging, and cultural pride, while their curiosity guides them to discover te reo and tikanga Māori at every turn.
Our kaimahi lead the day-to-day tasks, while whānau lead the wider learning experience.
This means the benefits of Te Kōhanga Reo education are intergenerational, spreading beyond the classroom into the home and the community.
Honouring our kaupapa Māori framework, we nurture the spiritual, emotional, physical, and intellectual wellbeing of every mokopuna in our care.
Honouring our kaupapa Māori framework, we nurture the spiritual, emotional, physical, and intellectual wellbeing of every mokopuna in our care.
our approach
He aha ngā whānau i whiriwhiri ai ia mātou
Why Families Choose Us
Choosing to send my son to Te Awhina Kohanga Reo was initially met with hesitation. Seeing him flourish, immersed in the beauty of his Māori culture has been nothing short of transformative. Now, our home echoes with the sounds of Te Reo Māori. It's beautiful to witness him, at such a young age, leading us back to our roots.
Now our big boy is at Kura Kaupapa, reo Māori is the main language in our whānau and he’s standing at Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga. Crazy looking back at our journey together and seeing the mountains he’s moved to allow himself to re-indigenise his world views, and in turn, create a solid foundation for our tamariki and mokopuna to grow from - I’ll always be proud.
My education journey stemmed from my koroua, which ultimately led us here to our beloved kohanga reo. When my iramutu began his journey at Te Āwhina Kōhanga Reo, I saw the opportunity to give back to my kōhanga whānau. Remembering our time here and seeing the next generation come through, this is where I'm meant to be.
latest news
Tō Tātou Hapori Ako
Our Learning Community
June 26, 2025
Whānau celebrate Matariki
Te Āwhina Kōhanga Reo came together on 26 June 2025 to celebrate Pō Matariki - an evening filled with creativity, whānau connection, and cultural pride. From wearable arts to shared kai, discover how our community honoured the Māori New Year.
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