Māori communities are disproportionately affected by drowning incidents, with Māori accounting for 31% of drowning deaths in 2022.Western water safety approaches have not been effective for Māori, often presenting language and cultural barriers, particularly for kura kaupapa Māori tamariki.
At Te Whare Kauhoe, we reframe water safety and swimming education through a Te Ao Māori lens—embedding tikanga, whakapapa, and mātauranga into every lesson.
All lessons are delivered in te reo Māori, incorporating Te Ao Māori perspectives on water as a source of purification, healing, and rongoā.
We keep costs low and provide transport for kura kaupapa Māori students.
We teach pīpīpaopao (ECE), rangatahi (youth), pakeke (adults), and kaumātua (elders) to foster intergenerational water safety and whānau well-being.
Our curriculum is grounded in mātauranga Māori, prioritising safety, confidence, and connection to wai.
By supporting Te Whare Kauhoe, you are helping to break barriers in water safety, strengthen Māori well-being, and ensure future generations are confident and safe in and around water.
We teach both swimming technique and water survival – from foundational skills through to advanced club-level training. Your child’s progression will be guided by their individual skill level.
Not at this stage. Te Whare Kauhoe is actively working to secure funding for a dedicated minibus to support this in the future.
All of our lessons are full immersion, delivered through a Te Ao Māori lens. Some of our administrative communication may be in reo Pākehā, as a few of our back-office kaimahi are still on their reo haerenga.
We welcome pēpi from as young as 6–8 months. At least one parent or caregiver must accompany the child in the pool during these sessions.
Āe – we do. Adult classes are available on request and are delivered bilingually to support all whānau, including those on their own reo Māori journey. Please email us directly to enquire.
You can register your tamaiti any time up until the day before the term begins. If you’re joining mid-term, kei te pai – just email us and we can assist with your registration.
Currently, Mondays and Tuesdays are dedicated to bulk bookings for kōhanga reo, puna reo, and kura kaupapa Māori. We are available for individual bookings on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Yes, for now. As Te Whare Kauhoe continues to grow, we intend to expand into pools in West and North Auckland.
Āe. From 2026 onwards, our programme will align with the New Zealand school terms. Each term will run for 8 weeks. As this is our establishment year, we have had to navigate around the pilot programme and the availability of our local puna reo and kura kaupapa.
Not necessarily. Your tamaiti will initially be placed with peers of a similar age. Our kaiako will assess their skill level and adjust group placement accordingly to ensure the best fit for their development.
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