Teaching with Culture - Without Fear of Getting it Wrong.
A calm supportive entry point for teachers who want to carry culture with care, confidence, and coherence - over time.
“You don’t need to be an expert. You need to be intentional.”
If this sounds like you, you’re not alone
Many teachers tell us:
I want to teach culture properly, but I’m scared of getting it wrong
I don’t want to be tokenistic
I don’t know where to start
I already feel overloaded with planning
Wanting to do this well already means you’re approaching it with care.
This page exists to help you begin — safely.
What Kōrero & Create actually supports
The Kōrero & Create: Basic eBook isn’t a set of lesson plans.
It’s a thinking companion.
It quietly supports teachers in three important ways:
1. It helps teachers think like cultural designers
Most teachers can plan lessons.
Very few are supported to design cultural journeys.
The prompts help you:
think beyond single activities
see learning as something that unfolds across time
notice patterns across weeks and terms
shift from “what am I teaching?” to “what am I growing?”
This is about designing meaning — not adding more work.
2. It gives teachers a shared language for culture
When teachers share:
common concepts (identity, belonging, whenua, movement, voice)
common framing questions
common reflection habits
Planning stops feeling isolated.
Culture becomes something held together, not carried alone.
This is how coherence begins to form across a team or a school.
3. It lowers fear and removes pressure
Most teachers want to teach culture with respect.
Many hesitate because they worry about:
overstepping
being tokenistic
not knowing enough
saying the wrong thing
The Basic eBook doesn’t demand expertise.
It quietly reassures:
You’re allowed to start.
You’re allowed to learn as you go.
Care matters more than perfection.
How support unfolds (you don’t have to do it all at once)
Layer 1 — Basic eBook
A safe starting point.
Mindset, language, and confidence — used individually and gently.
Layer 2 — Term Design Support
Turning prompts into practice.
Examples, reassurance, and planning conversations.
Layer 3 — Year & Multi-Year Pathways
Thinking in cycles, not silos.
Revisiting ideas, deepening meaning, building continuity.
You choose the pace.
You choose the depth.
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“Do I need to be an expert in te ao Māori?”
No. This work is about intention, reflection, and care — not expertise or performance.“What if I get it wrong?”
You will learn. Reflection and adjustment are part of the process. This approach values growth over perfection.“Is this only for primary teachers?”
No. The cultural thinking applies across ages, roles, and contexts. The examples are educational — the principles are universal.“Is this another thing I have to ‘add on’?”
No. It helps bring coherence to what you already teach.“Can I go slowly?”
Yes. You choose the pace and depth.
A grounding truth
You are not being asked to perform culture.
You are being invited to carry it with care — over time.
The eBook opens the door.
Support helps you walk through it.
Where to begin
Start gently with the Basic eBook
See how this thinking works across a term (coming soon)
Explore deeper pathways when you’re ready (Pro / School support)