Māori Language for Ceremonies: He Karanga ki te Reo Māori
Two Zooms: Wednesdays 21 & 28 October 2026; 7.30-8.30pm$95.00 incl. GST
This popular ceremony-specific training is designed for you if you are a celebrant who wants to use te reo Māori in your ceremonies, but are not confident with the language. The workshop is practical and aims to improve pronunciation and help you feel more confident, competent, and culturally grounded when using te reo Māori.
Our facilitator, Karen Tangaere (Ngāti Porou), who is both celebrant and teacher, has been highly endorsed by previous workshop participants for creating such a supportive, encouraging learning environment that gently reduces fear, builds understanding, and supports accurate pronunciation and respectful use of te reo Māori in ceremonial contexts.
In this workshop you will:
- Explore opportunities to incorporate te reo Māori into your ceremonies
- Practise pronunciation of the Māori words you already use (or want to use)
- Rehearse greetings, commonly used phrases, and blessings relevant to various ceremonies
- Identify common barriers to using te reo Māori — and learn practical ways to move through yours
You will have time to ask questions, voice concerns, request specific content, and most importantly, practise aloud (but in private).
The workshop is delivered over two sessions, allowing space to consolidate your learning and build real confidence in your language use, so you can stand proudly as a professional celebrant of Aotearoa-New Zealand!
If you miss a session, a recording or written resources will be provided — though nothing replaces the value of live practice.
He Karanga ki te reo Māori – invite Māori language into your ceremonies now.
Tūwhitia te hopo! Feel the fear — and do it anyway.
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Finding Whakatauki – their Focus and Function in Ceremony
Workshop recordingThis Zui, led by celebrant, Karen Tangaere, was recorded during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, 2023. It encourages celebrants to explore the focus and function of whakataukī (Māori proverbs), so that they are more knowledgeable and confident to use them in their ceremonies. Before watching the recording, you should first research a whakataukī that speaks to you personally, and have that with you.
Karen Rongokahekeiterangi Tangaere
He uri nō Porourangi e mihi atu ana ki a koutou katoa
I greet you as a descendant of Porourangi.
Ko Hikurangi te maunga
Ko Waiapu te awa
Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi
Tūwhitia te hopo! Feel the fear and do it anyway! We hope you enjoy this ongoing professional development session.
2024 Matariki Workshop
The Seeds of Matariki are FallingJoin us as we explore the essence of Matariki in this workshop, where you’ll create meaningful rituals that honour the past using wisdom bestowed upon you by a past ancestor, celebrate yourself and the present using nature as your inspiration, and embrace the future. Guided by the wisdom of a whakataukī shared in Dr. Rāngi Mātāmua’s book, Ka rere ngā purapura a Matariki—which speaks of Matariki’s frost and snow bringing people together in unity and love—this experience invites you to connect deeply with the spirit of the season.
You will need:
- A piece of wisdom shared with you by an ancestor
- A tray or plate with a selection of handpicked selection of materials found in nature such as – flowers, stones, shells, sticks, etc.
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Ceremony and Celebration – kick start your celebrant training in the New Year!
20/21 & 27/28 February 2027 (online across 2 weekends)Is now the time? Have you been wondering what a celebrant really does, what makes a ceremony meaningful, or whether celebrancy could be your next professional step? Perhaps you have long wanted to become a marriage celebrant, or you have completed Marriage Celebrant Essentials and are ready to explore the deeper ceremonial dimensions of this mahi. Did you start with other papers and still need Ceremony and Celebration to complete your qualification?
Ceremony and Celebration offers a realistic and inspiring exploration into professional celebrancy. The course covers a wide range of contemporary ceremonies and builds some core skills required for practice as a professional celebrant. It is recommended as the first course in the Certificate in Celebrant Studies (although other entry points are possible to fit your schedule).
You will:
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Develop a strong understanding of ceremony and ritual
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Explore the role of the celebrant specifically in Aotearoa-New Zealand
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Build essential writing, presentation, and delivery skills
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Learn a practical framework for planning and designing ceremonies for births, deaths, marriages, and other significant life events
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Gain confidence, clarity, and a grounded sense of professional practice
The most frequent feedback we get is that students didn’t know what they didn’t know until they started this training.
Course dates and format
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Weekend 1: 20 & 21 February, 9.00am – 4.00pm
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Weekend 2: 27 & 28 Februray, 9.00am – 1.00pm
(ie The course is delivered across two weekends.)
Delivery
The programme is delivered fully via Zoom. We have created an engaging online learning experience that keeps participants connected, active, and involved. Past participants consistently report strong skill development, meaningful professional connections, and genuine enjoyment throughout the course.
Invest in yourself — and in your confidence and competence as a professional celebrant. Enrol by 30 January to secure the discounted earlybird fee.
Important Note: If you are wanting to gain a professional level qualification and graduate within the year, this is your best foundation to make all subsequent papers flow on easily.