Māori Land Governance EducationFree of Charge

Te Ara Whakapapa ki te Whenua

Delivered by Te Ahi Kaa

A 12-month learning journey for whānau with Māori land interests. Build your understanding of Māori land ownership, whakapapa, succession and governance in a supportive learning environment.

See How It Works

Watch a walkthrough of the Te Ara Whakapapa sign-up process.

Creating Your Password

Follow these simple rules and you’ll be set up in seconds.

  • At least 10 characters long
  • Include at least 1 Capital Letter
  • Include at least 1 number
  • Don't use your username, first name, or last name

Easy Example

For example: Kereru42River or Whenua7Awa — an easy word or two, plus a number, with one Capital Letter.

The Kaupapa

This programme helps rangatahi, emerging landowners and whānau strengthen their confidence to participate in decisions about the stewardship, protection and future use of their whenua.

Who this is for

  • Rangatahi and emerging landowners
  • Māori freehold land shareholders
  • Whānau reconnecting with ancestral whenua
  • Anyone wanting to better understand Māori land ownership and governance

Course Modules

Six areas of learning guide participants from foundational whakapapa through to confident governance and kaitiakitanga.

  1. 01

    Whakapapa and connection to whenua

  2. 02

    Understanding ownership schedules and share fragmentation

  3. 03

    Succession and inherited land interests

  4. 04

    Governance participation and decision-making

  5. 05

    Papakāinga readiness

  6. 06

    Food resilience, seed sovereignty and environmental stewardship

How the Course is Delivered

Online learning

12 months of online Moodle learning, self-paced.

Open to all whānau

Open to whānau with Māori land interests anywhere in the world.

Marae wānanga

5 marae wānanga for testing, assessment and shared learning.

Zoom access

Zoom access available for participants unable to attend in person.

Kaupapa Māori grounded

Learning grounded in kaupapa Māori values and collective kōrero.

Why Join

Strengthen your land ownership literacy

Build a clearer understanding of your whenua interests.

Understand your role as kaitiaki

Grow your confidence as a guardian of ancestral land.

Build confidence to engage in land governance

Participate in decisions that shape your whenua's future.

Begin Your Journey on Te Ara Whakapapa

Take the first step toward confident, informed governance of your ancestral Māori freehold land — free of charge.