Cultural Practice Explanation — Understanding Tikanga · Years 7–10
Tikanga refers to Māori customary practices — the "right way" of doing things according to Māori culture. Tikanga guides behaviour, ensuring respect, safety, and harmony in communities.
The word comes from tika meaning "correct" or "right."
Tapu means something is sacred, restricted, or spiritually protected. It sets up boundaries to keep people safe.
Noa is the opposite of tapu — everyday, unrestricted, balanced.
Mana is prestige, authority, and spiritual power.
Manaakitanga is the practice of caring for others, showing kindness and generosity.
Karakia are spoken to create a sense of focus, to acknowledge spiritual dimensions, or to transition between activities. You might hear karakia at the start of school, before meals, or before important events.
The hongi is a traditional greeting where two people press noses and foreheads together. This represents sharing the breath of life (ha) and connects the two people spiritually.
A pōwhiri is a formal welcome ceremony on a marae. It includes karanga (call), whaikōrero (speeches), waiata (songs), hongi, and kai (food).
In tikanga, heads and food should be kept separate:
Many NZ schools incorporate tikanga:
Tikanga is recognised in NZ law and institutions:
Every culture has customs and practices. Think about your own family or cultural background:
My reflections:
Curriculum alignment for this handout has not yet been verified against the live curriculum statements. A generated placeholder that stood here was removed on 2026-08-29 because it matched no real statement.
Reflect on your learning. What was the most important idea? What question do you still have?
This resource sits within a kaupapa that recognises mātauranga Māori as a living knowledge system with its own frameworks, values, and ways of understanding the world. The New Zealand Curriculum calls for learning that reflects the bicultural partnership of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which means every subject area has an obligation to engage authentically with Māori perspectives — not as cultural decoration but as substantive contributions to how we understand our topics. The concepts of manaakitanga (care for others), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), whanaungatanga (relationship and belonging), and tino rangatiratanga (self-determination) provide a values framework applicable across all learning areas, and all are relevant to the work in this handout.
This handout is designed to be used alongside other resources in the same unit. This handout stands on its own; it is not part of a linked unit planner. All content is provided — no additional preparation is required to use this handout in your classroom.