Te Atakura

Te Atakura


Te Atakura is a culturally responsive, relationships-based approach, grounded in research and guided by kaupapa Māori values, towards achieving ōritetanga (equity) within tertiary education in New Zealand.

It focuses on the educational experience of ākonga Māori in a way that enables the organisation better to support the educational experience and outcomes for all ākonga.


Ākonga (students) identify kaiako (teachers) with high-caring and high-teaching skills as the most effective. Since 2013 when UCOL introduced Te Atakura, the key impacts for ākonga include:

  • increased successful course completion (all ākonga)

  • increased qualification achieved per Equivalent Full Time Student (all ākonga)

  • sustained higher rates of change in course completion (all ākonga)

  • increased participation rates for ākonga Māori

  • positive ākonga Māori voice

Where does it come from?

Te Atakura is a tertiary institution initiative that was based on practice that came from the extensive research of Emeritus Professor Russell Bishop. It is a relationships-based, teaching and learning approach, which focuses on the importance of relationships in bringing about educational success for Māori and marginalised ākonga.


What did ākonga voices say in the research?

Ākonga Māori and their whānau talked about the main influence on their educational achievement in terms of relationships, particularly those between kaiako and ākonga but also including all the relationships in the educational community. They wanted to improve the motivation to learn, self-esteem, cultural identity, and educational achievements for ākonga Māori. Ākonga Māori told the researchers that they valued high-quality relationships with their kaiako and intuitively knew whether a kaiako valued the relationship they had with them. The quality of the relationship impacted on ākonga performance, in both achievement and behaviour.


What did the ākonga voice at UCOL say?

Responses of ākonga Māori in the focus groups held at UCOL in 2013 suggested that they valued their relationships with their kaiako and saw this as an important aspect that helped with their learning. One ākonga, for instance, talked about getting to know kaiako and their teaching style to enable a better teaching and learning relationship. When asked to describe the characteristics of a 'great' kaiako, ākonga responses suggested that these were kaiako with good subject knowledge and the ability to engage and interact well with ākonga in a respectful manner.


What can I expect to see from Te Atakura as an ākonga at UCOL?

You may see kaiako across UCOL being observed while teaching classes by Te Atakura coaches. Observations may happen anywhere that teaching and learning happens such as in your classrooms, practical workshops/settings, or online.

You may be asked to give voice/feedback at the end of a Te Atakura observation in your class. This voice helps the coach and your kaiako reflect on ākonga engagement in the learning.

Ākonga Māori may also be asked to be part of an ākonga Māori focus group. These focus groups are an opportunity for kaiako and leaders to hear what ākonga Māori are thinking in terms of their learning experience and educational performance.

Questions ākonga have asked us about Te Atakura

No. Te Atakura coaches are not in classrooms to observe you, but they are there to collect evidence on kaiako teaching practices, which they will then reflect on with your kaiako.
No. However, your voice does have the power to drive change and is really important in shaping the teaching and learning experience not just for yourself, but also for your peers and others who study at UCOL.
There are different phases to the Te Atakura journey for a kaiako. However, no matter what phase they are in, all kaiako have access to Te Atakura coaches.
Te Atakura is an organisation-wide model in which everyone has a role to play. All kaimahi at UCOL have access to Te Atakura coaches, workshops, and resources. Those with high fidelity to the model see the greatest success, not just for ākonga Māori but for all ākonga.

On the Manawatū, Whanganui and Horowhenua campuses please contact Erin Lincoln, Kaikōkiri Te Atakura at E.Lincoln@ucol.ac.nz  On the Wairarapa campus, please contact Riki Anderson, Kaikōkiri Te Mana Tauira at R.Anderson@ucol.ac.nz