Te Punga Marutau
Te Punga Marutau has been created for Recreation Aotearoa members to increase the cultural capability of their teams.
Te Punga Marutau, meaning “Our Safety Anchor”, was born from wānanga and team collaboration. It sparks deep conversations about cultural concepts, personal philosophies, and values—often leading to powerful Kura huna moments that unlock hidden knowledge.
Key concepts
Te Punga Marutau weaves together:
- Gamification—bicultural thinking through Māori values.
- Tūponotanga / chance—embracing the unknown.
- Tuakana/Teina relationships—learning from each other.
- Waka Hourua framework—a wayfinding approach to competency.
- Taniwha Cards—introducing challenges to build adaptability.
- Hianga / rule exceptions—creating space for flexibility and learning.
Our goal? To embed cultural capability through dynamic, interactive learning.
Pae Tawhito | The Past—where it all began
Te Punga Marutau started with a simple goal: to embrace te ao Māori in a way that felt natural, engaging, and fun. Instead of traditional training, we created a game-based experience that brings people together through play, storytelling, and shared learning.
Pae Tawhiti | The Future—why it matters
Cultural capability should be accessible, relevant, and shaped our unique Aotearoa identity. Te Punga Marutau has strengthened our team’s understanding of Māori culture, and now we’re excited to share it with you.
This tool guides teams through kōrero / conversations about cultural concepts, values, and shared philosophies. It builds confidence across the six core competency areas of Te Arawhiti, helping teams embed cultural capability in their everyday work.
Pae Wātū | The Present—how it works
Te Punga Marutau creates space for connection through tākaro /play, pūrākau / storytelling, and collective learning. It moves away from tick-box training and makes cultural learning interactive and engaging.
How to play
- Spin the wheel—hit the spinner to land on an activity type.
- Choose an island—pick a learning area to explore.
- Select a task—choose a challenge at your skill level: Pia, Kaieke, Kaumona.
- Complete & share—reflect, discuss, and grow your collecting knowledge.
The process is flexible, so you can tailor the experience to your team’s needs.
Ngā Utu | Pricing
The current cost for accessing Te Punga Marutau is $450 + GST per organisation or group.
This includes:
- Access to the full resource suite
- Support from our team during this early rollout phase.
Join us on the journey
Are you ready to strengthen your team's cultural capability? Let's get started.
Please complete the form below to express your interest in accessing and using this tool.
Te Punga Marutau Expression of Interest
Terms and Conditions
Te Punga Marutau is currently in a development phase. Your participation will help us to test, learn, and refine the resource.