“Ko tō tātou kaupeka, ko te toi. Ko te toi whakaaro, he mana tangata.”
Our branch is art. Where there is artistic expression, there is human dignity.
Toi Whakaaro is a kete — a woven basket where Ringatoi and Kaiako share Māori design lessons, pūrākau, and wānanga with each other for tertiary teaching. Built to equip Kaiako (teachers) and Ringatoi (practising artists who teach) with the tools to guide tauira through authentic Māori design practices, the platform unites cultural protocol with purposeful technology to carry ancestral traditions forward into the modern classroom with humility and care.
Who Is It For?
Toi Whakaaro is built for the tertiary Toi Māori community — those who teach, practise, and carry forward the living traditions of Māori design:
- Kaiako — tertiary teachers delivering Toi Māori across Kura Kaupapa, Wānanga, and studio programmes.
- Ringatoi — practising artists who teach, sharing lived technique and Iwi-specific lineage with the next generation.
- Wānanga & Kura Kaupapa institutions seeking a structured, accreditation-aligned platform for Toi Māori delivery.
- Tauira — students learning under accredited educators, progressing through the Kākano, Pou, and Ringa Toi tiers.
How It Works
Author Lessons & Resources
Kaiako and Ringatoi build tracing lessons, pūrākau readers, and quizzes in the Content Studio.
Issue Classroom Keys
Generate secure classroom keys and student PINs that curate which lessons, stories, and tools each cohort can access.
Students Trace & Learn
Tauira enter their key to trace traditional motifs on guided canvases, read the pūrākau behind the designs, and progress through the three-tier mastery model.
Track Progress in the Marking Hub
Educators review tracing strokes, quiz results, and reflections in a centralised Marking Hub — and issue certificates to recognise growth.
Although you can use your finger or a PC mouse, for best results and lesson practice: a tablet or iPad with a stylus pen is recommended.
A tertiary teaching platform for Toi Māori — equipping Kaiako and Ringatoi to author lessons, manage classrooms, and track student growth across a three-tier accreditation model (Kākano, Pou, Ringa Toi).
Accreditation Tiers
A three-tier accreditation model — Kākano, Pou, and Ringa Toi.
Kākano — Seed
The beginning of your journey. Explore Māori-inspired design, browse the Toi Directory, and join Wānanga discussions.
- Browse the Toi Directory
- Read public Pūrākau stories
- Join Wānanga discussions
Pou — Pillar
An accredited contributor, verified by Toi Whakaaro. Full access to the Learning Studio, Artist Hub, Quiz Hub, and Pūrākau.
- Full Learning Studio access
- Artist Hub & Free Draw
- Quiz Hub & Pūrākau
Ringa Toi — Skilled Hand
An educator and creator with classroom tools, lesson authoring, and student progress tracking. Granted by Toi Whakaaro.
- Educator Dashboard access
- Classroom key management
- Student progress tracking
“Toi Whakaaro is more than a platform — it is a binding commitment to keeping the living culture of Māori art thriving for generations to come.”
Explore the PlatformSources & References
The cultural knowledge, structural motifs, and design principles embedded within Toi Whakaaro are drawn strictly from highly respected archives of Māori art and tradition:
Te Toi Whakairo: The Art of Maori Carving — by Sir Hirini Moko Mead
Utilized as the primary baseline authority for traditional carving principles, chevron motifs, and correct cultural contexts.
Additional Tribal Sources
Lineages of traditional Māori art schools, Iwi-specific design histories, and contemporary lived interpretations by practicing carvers.