Ako Ararau – Event Name

He ara rau mō te ako, he ara rau nā te ako. Pathways to learn, opportunities to succeed.

Named by Kingi Kiriona, Ako Ararau is in reference to the many ways in which to learn and succeed. The name was inspired by the many ways or ‘ara’ that success through Māori language and culture can be achieved.

Additionally, ‘ako,’ which means to both ‘teach’ and ‘learn’, and therefore embraces everyone on the journey of learning more about te ao Māori.

TupuOra – Event Host

TupuOra is a whānau business founded by Kingi Kiriona and Te Waipounamu Teinakore in 2016. The birth of their daughter, Hinetapere, was a key driver to establishing a whānau business. It was an opportunity to create a lifestyle centred around the raising of their pēpi and a way in which the wider Kiriona and Teinakore whānau could thrive in doing what they love — everything Māori!  The love and care for whānau and te ao Māori is the foundation upon which TupuOra is built.

With a strong team of kaimahi and contractors, TupuOra operate a number of programmes and services, all of which, contribute to the overall mission of growing the wellbeing and success of others through te reo and tikanga Māori.

Te Kaupapa – Event Purpose

The idea for the event was borne out of TupuOra interactions with a vast number of te reo Māori language learners and practitioners across Aotearoa. Through many discussions the idea of hosting an uplifting, face to face, te reo and tikanga learning opportunity for people of all capabilities arose and the concept of Ako Ararau was brought to life.