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Our Impact

Kuki Learning is built on the idea that language is more than words — it’s about connection, identity, and community. Our community-led projects are designed to revive and celebrate Cook Islands Māori through collaboration, creativity, and cultural pride.

Project Highlights

Kia Orana Day 2025

Kia Orana Day was a powerful celebration of identity, culture, and connection.

Originally planned for 150 guests, over 500 people attended — including Cook Islands families from Christchurch, Dunedin, Ashburton, and even Auckland, alongside Fijian, Samoan, and Tongan communities.

What unfolded was a deeply moving day. Many were brought to tears as elders, youth, and whānau came together to dance, speak our reo, and share kai. Attendees described feeling pride, belonging, and a renewed connection to culture.

Kuki Learning is proud to create spaces like this — where our reo lives, and our people thrive. Meitaki ma‘ata to Pasifika Futures for supporting Kia Orana Day.

  • Reconnected multi-generational families through language

  • Strengthened ties between Cook Islands and wider Pasifika communities

  • Highlighted by tears, laughter, and overwhelming feedback from elders, youth, and families

Event Post

Kuki XIII - Rugby Meets Reo 2024

In 2024, Kuki Learning proudly partnered with Kuki XIII Rugby League to bring Cook Islands Māori into the heart of sport. For the first time, cultural and language lessons were integrated into training sessions — connecting young players with their reo and identity.

Quick 15–20 minute reo lessons were delivered to:

    • U14 & U16 Girls

    • U18 Boys

    • Open Women’s Team (25 players

Lessons covered greetings, numbers, phrases, footy-related Māori terms, and the pe’e (chants). These short sessions were powerful in building confidence, cultural pride, and visibility of Cook Islands identity.

Kuki XIII was the only team to showcase culture through drumming, chanting, and traditional performance at the Pacific Series.

  • “We love the drums, guys!”
  • “You brought the event to life!”

Even the NZ Police joined the experience — learning to drum and dance alongside our teams.

“J-Lee walks around the house chanting the pe’e… she used to be too shy. Now she wants to dance!”

“It’s amazing to see our kids learning their culture outside of trips back to the Cooks.”

“My boys embraced it — they gave everything a go.”

These stories show the impact went well beyond the field — into homes, hearts, and futures.

  • Introduced language through fun, relatable sport settings

  • Boosted player confidence and cultural pride

  • Extended learning into homes and families.

Te Ara Ou Language Course

“Te Ara Ou” (The New Pathway) was a five-week beginner Cook Islands Māori course held in Christchurch, run in partnership with Tagata Moana Trust, CIDANZ and Kuki Learning. Designed to strengthen language skills and cultural identity, the course brought together 18 active learners — with interest exceeding capacity.

  • Cultural Connection: Most learners had family ties to the language but little speaking ability. The emotional link to grandparents was a major motivator.

  • Eager Learners: Participants were deeply committed — not just for themselves, but to pass the reo on to their children.

  • Engaging Delivery: Activities like drumming, dance, and singing brought the language to life and deepened understanding.

  • Supportive Vibe: The course offered a safe, welcoming space where people felt proud to be Cook Islander.

  • Demand for More: Learners requested a longer, 10-week version, with more time and resources to absorb the content.

“I feel closer to my culture now.”


“I can confidently introduce myself in Cook Islands Māori.”


“This course gave me pride, confidence, and a sense of belonging.”


“I’m hungry for more – when’s the next one?”

  • Tailored to learners’ real-life context

  • Encouraged adult learners to reconnect with their roots

  • Provided a safe space to learn, make mistakes, and grow.

Our Partners & Collaborators

We’re proud to walk alongside organisations, community groups, and champions of reo who share our mission. Together, we create spaces where Cook Islands Māori language and culture thrive — in homes, schools, fields, and hearts.

Meitaki ma‘ata to all who have stood with us. Your support helps us carry the reo forward, one learner, one moment, one community at a time.

Shared Impact: 

  • Kia Orana Day 2025

  • Growing Kuki Learnings impact across Aotearoa.

Shared Impact: 

  • Te Ara Ou Language Programme

  • Covid-19 digital campaign

  • Cook Islands Language Week digital campaign.

Shared Impact: 

  • Te Ara Ou Language Programme

Shared Impact: 

Our partnership with TAV Pacific helped amplify the visibility of Kuki Learning through sponsorship and cultural celebration. Together, we brought Cook Islands identity to life not only in language, but in fashion — creating meaningful visibility for our work.

Shared Impact: 

  • Cook Islands Language Week 2024 and 2023.

  • Cultural performance group for local events – opened for Shapeshifters concert in Christchurch.

Shared Impact: 

  • Kuki XIII Rugby League language programme.

Want to work with us?

If your group, school, or organisation wants to partner on a project, sponsor a community event, or bring language learning into your kaupapa, we’d love to connect.

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