He rongoā tō te reo – Te Reo Māori as a form of healing

About this research

What are some of the psychological, emotional and spiritual influences that learners have experienced when learning te reo Māori?

How are these influences related to past trauma or negative experiences of theirs (or others) and in what ways have these influences impacted their engagement with and learning of te reo Māori?

What kinds of intergenerational trauma are having an impact on the ability to engage with and learn/speak te reo Māori?

In what ways do learners overcome these barriers to being motivated to learn te reo Māori?

How can teaching and learning pedagogies be adapted to accommodate psychological, emotional and spiritual barriers to learning te reo Māori that enhances and empowers learner experiences?

There are a range of factors that inhibit learners from engaging and participating in te reo Māori and these include whakamā (shame or embarrassment), hopo (fear, anxiety) and perhaps psychological, emotional or spiritual occurrences that have impacted on their confidence or their desire to learn. This project will investigate the psychological, emotional and spiritual barriers and struggles that can be experienced when learning te reo Māori and how these experiences shape and impact an individual’s learning pathway and trajectory. From these insights, new approaches to learning te reo Māori will be developed, along with new tools and resources that support the idea of te reo Māori as a form of healing and a language of empowerment.

The aims of this project are to a) Explore and understand the psychological, emotional and spiritual influences and impacts on a learner of te reo; b) Examine how intergenerational trauma and impacts of colonisation have contributed to individuals learning journeys of te reo Māori; c) Examine the motivators and barriers around the desire for learning te reo Māori; and d) Investigate new teaching and learning strategies and pedagogical approaches to learning te reo Māori (including new resources) that consider the psychological, emotional and spiritual contexts in which individuals are learning te reo Māori.

This rangahau project will employ predominantly qualitative methods to allow in-depth investigation of psychological, emotional and spiritual impacts on learner experiences. Methods will include thematic analysis and will be guided by the overarching values and principles of TWoA’s rangahau strategy and Kaupapa Māori theory.