He Puna - He Rau
The Many Streams
He Mihi:
He mihi tēnei ki te hunga, nā rātou ngā kōrero i tuku mai ki ahau, hei āpitihanga mā tēnei kaupapa. Mā ngā kupu o te whakataukī nei “Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engāri he toa takitini” tēnei kaupapa i tutuki ai. He nui ngā mātāpuna i ruku, he rahi ngā ahunga i tātare kia oti ai tēnei rauemi. Hēoi anō, e tika ana kia mihia koe e te manu taupunga ki runga o Rangiuru, te matatiki o te kī, te tangata whakairo kupu, tangata whatu kōrero. Nāu anō te rautaki *Ngā Akoranga e Rima* i toha, e Te Keepa, e kore ngā mihi e mimiti māu, e moe, okioki e. Ki te Kākā haetara o Te Urewera, te Kōtuku matakara nā Te Rangihau, e Roka, he mihi māu mō te kākano i whakatō mō te kaupapa Marae kei te mutunga o tēnei rauemi. Otirā, taku whakamiha ki ngā puna katoa i hāpai i ahau.
Acknowledgement:
I would like to acknowledge everyone who contributed in some way shape or form to this resource. I reference the proverb that says “My strength is not that of my own, but it is the strength of many” in which this resource was able to be completed. There were many sources used and accessed in order to complete this resource. I must acknowledge the cheifly bird upon Rangiuru, the orator, the one who is articulate with words. You are the one who shared the strategy of knowledge transmission through the 5 Learning Modalities, Te Keepa, I am forever grateful for your many teachings. To the chiefly bird from the Urewera, the Heron descended from Te Rangihau, Roka, thank you for the seed and kōrero you planted back in 2010. The Marae reource you had started to digitize which I have finally completed and added to at the end of this resource. However, thank you to everyone who directly or indirectly contributed to the completion of the resource.
AI – Atua-Inspired, Ancestral Intelligence
Atua-Inspired, Ancestral Intelligence recognises intelligence as a sacred inheritance derived from Atua, expressed through whakapapa, and refined across generations. Within this worldview, intelligence is not an abstract or mechanistic capacity but a living system grounded in relationships between people, the natural world, and the spiritual realm. Knowledge emerges through observation, experience, ritual, language, and connection to whenua and is guided by tikanga that ensure balance, respect, and continuity. Learning is therefore inseparable from identity and responsibility, requiring learners to engage with knowledge in ways that honour its origins and purposes.
Ancestral Intelligence as a Living Knowledge System
Ancestral intelligence is cumulative and adaptive, shaped by centuries of environmental awareness, social organisation, storytelling, and ethical decision-making. It is carried through oral traditions, waiata, mōteatea, whakataukī, whakapapa, and daily practice, enabling communities to respond thoughtfully to change while remaining anchored in core values. As a learning framework, Atua-Inspired Ancestral Intelligence affirms that innovation is not a departure from tradition but a continuation of it. However, it supports the development of critical thinking, leadership, and creativity that are culturally grounded, future-focused, and accountable to both ancestors and generations yet to come.
Whakapapa
Whakapapa is the foundational framework for understanding relationships between people, ancestors, the natural world, and the spiritual realm. As a learning modality, it situates knowledge within lineage and connection, enabling learners to locate themselves in relation to history, place, identity, and responsibility.
Karakia
Karakia are ritual incantations or prayers used to open, guide, and protect learning processes. In educational contexts, karakia establish spiritual balance, focus intention, and acknowledge the interconnectedness of the physical and metaphysical realms, creating a respectful and grounded learning environment.
Mōteatea
Mōteatea are traditional chants that preserve historical narratives, emotions, and tribal knowledge. As a learning modality, they transmit complex information such as genealogy, events, and values through oral performance, reinforcing memory, language proficiency, and cultural continuity.
Ngā Akoranga e Rima reflect the ways our tīpuna have always shared, held, and protected both esoteric and exoteric knowledge. Through whakapapa, we come to understand who we are, where we belong, and how we are connected to one another, to the whenua, and to the Atua. Karakia creates space for learning by bringing our minds, hearts, and wairua into balance. Mōteatea carry the voices of the past, holding stories of joy, loss, resistance, and survival that continues to shape who we are today. Whakataukī, whakatauākī, and pepeha allow wisdom to be spoken in ways that are memorable and personal, grounding learning in lived experience and identity. Tātai kōrero weaves these forms together through storytelling, helping knowledge to flow with meaning and purpose. Together, Ngā Akoranga e Rima remind us that learning in Te Ao Māori is not separate from life itself; it is relational, embodied, and passed on through people, ensuring our knowledge lives on with integrity for generations to come.
Whakataukī, Whakatauākī, and Pepeha
Whakataukī, whakatauākī and pepeha are proverbial expressions that encapsulate ancestral wisdom, values, and guidance through metaphor and concise language. They complement each other by allowing individuals to articulate their identity through ancestral, geographic, and tribal references.
Tātai kōrero
Tātai kōrero refers to structured storytelling and narrative sequencing used to convey knowledge coherently. As a learning modality, it supports understanding through logical progression, context-building, and oral tradition, enabling learners to grasp complex ideas through connected and meaningful narratives.