He Reo Tupu, He Reo Ora has been chosen as the title of this resource. The literal meaning is ‘a growing language is a living language’. The title signifies the way languages grow and evolve, and the importance of learning and using languages to keep them alive and dynamic. The title reflects a belief about the well-being of te reo Māori – that the more we learn and speak it the more it will flourish. It implies the reciprocal benefits of learning te reo Māori. As our knowledge and use of te reo grows and develops, te reo grows and develops in its turn. The theme of growth is reflected in the four levels of Te Aho Arataki, the curriculum guidelines, which illustrate progression from a seedling to a sapling to a flourishing tree.

These lesson plans have been written in alignment with the Te reo Māori Curriculum Guidelines -Te Aho Arataki Marau mō te Ako i Te Reo Māori - Kura Auraki.

The Achievement Objectives listed in the lesson plans are derived from that document. In each level, the lesson plans provide links to accompanying resource sheets and activities.