Exploring Paakihi Māori

Unit: Creating a T-Shirt Business (Lesson 1 of 6)

---

Duration

60 minutes

Class size

20 Year 7-8 students

---

Learning Objectives

Aligned with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa social sciences and business studies for Year 7-8, students will be able to:

• Understand the concept of a business through a Māori world view (te ao Māori), including the role of paakihi in Māori communities.
• Identify and distinguish between goods and services within a Māori context.
• Recognise the whakapapa of enterprise in Māori society by linking traditional principles to modern business ideas.
• Begin brainstorming t-shirt business ideas that reflect kaupapa Māori values such as manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga, and whanaungatanga.

These objectives connect with key competencies of managing self, relating to others, and participating and contributing as outlined in Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.

---

Curriculum Standards and Competencies

• Social sciences | Year 7-8: Understanding economic activities in communities; the role of local enterprises reflecting tikanga Māori.
• Business Studies | Year 7-8 Achievement Objective: Students investigate how businesses serve social and cultural needs, particularly in local Māori contexts.
• Key competencies: Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga, and Kaitiakitanga inform the enterprise focus.
• Supports the Future Focus of enterprise and citizenship – encouraging innovation grounded in cultural identity and community wellbeing.

---

Success Criteria

By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Explain what a business is and its role in Māori communities.
• Identify and give examples of goods and services.
• Share at least one idea for their own t-shirt business incorporating kaupapa Māori principles.
• Demonstrate respect and collaboration in group discussions.

---

Resources Needed

• Large sheets of paper or whiteboard for brainstorming
• Markers/pens
• Visual aids: Pictures/examples of Māori paakihi (e.g., marae artisans, local businesses)
• Dyslexia-friendly printed materials with simple language and supportive visuals (for reading about business concepts)
• Examples of t-shirt designs inspired by Māori motifs and values (can be images or physical examples)
• Vocabulary list with Māori and English terms for ‘business’, ‘goods’, ‘services’, and key values

---

Lesson Outline

1. Karakia and Whakataukī (5 minutes)

• Purpose: Ground the lesson in tikanga Māori and establish a positive, respectful environment.
• Teacher leads a short karakia welcoming creativity and learning.
• Introduce whakataukī related to knowledge and enterprise, e.g.
  "Mā te whakaaro nui e hanga te whare; mā te mātauranga e whakaū."
  ("Big ideas create the house; knowledge maintains it.")

---

2. Introduction - What is a Business? (10 minutes)

• Engage students with a whakawhanaungatanga activity: share experiences of businesses or markets (marae or local).
• Define “business” through interactive discussion and use te reo Māori terms (e.g., paakihi).
• Explain businesses in Māori settings, e.g., how paakihi supports whānau and hapū.
• Present images/examples showing goods (tangi, kai, taonga) and services (guiding, teaching, building).

---

3. Group Activity - Goods and Services (15 minutes)

• Split the class into small groups (4-5 students).
• Each group sorts pictures or words into two categories: goods and services within a Māori context.
• Groups discuss how these businesses reflect kaupapa Māori values.
• Use sentence starters to support dyslexic learners:
  • “This is a good because...”
  • “This is a service because...”
• Support with visual cues and paired reading for students needing scaffolding.

---

4. Explore Paakihi Māori in Our Community (10 minutes)

• Whole-class brainstorming and sharing: Identify local Māori businesses or services students know (including marae-based enterprises).
• Discuss the role these businesses play in connecting to whakapapa, tikanga, and community wellbeing.
• Highlight Kiingitanga influences or marae tikanga if applicable, showing business as a way to uphold culture and mana.

---

5. Brainstorming Our T-Shirt Business Ideas (15 minutes)

• Guide students to start imagining their own t-shirt business.
• Prompt ideas that weave in kaupapa Māori values such as kaitiakitanga (environmental care), manaakitanga (hospitality), and whanaungatanga (relationships).
• Students sketch or jot down their initial business ideas in pairs or small groups.
• Encourage Māori motifs, whakataukī, or iwi/hapū stories as inspiration for designs and business purpose.
• Use sentence frames and provide dyslexia-friendly word banks for support.

---

6. Reflection and Whakataunga (5 minutes)

• Recap what was learned about businesses and paakihi Māori.
• Students share one new thing they learned or one idea they’re excited about.
• Close with a short whakataunga, reinforcing the collective and future-focused learning.

---

Differentiation Strategies

Strategy	Purpose	Application
Pair work and group discussions	Eases language and social demands for diverse learners	Encourage peer support and kōrero
Visual aids & graphic organisers	Support dyslexic and visual learners	Use pictures & mind maps
Sentence starters & word banks	Scaffold writing and speaking	Provide examples for sentence building
Hands-on sorting activity	Engage kinaesthetic learners and clarify abstract ideas	Goods/services categorisation game
Māori language integration	Supports Māori medium learners and cultural identity	Use te reo vocabulary consistently
Extension questions	Challenge advanced learners	“How can your t-shirt business help the community?”

---

Extension Activities for Advanced Learners

• Research a famous Māori business or entrepreneur (e.g., Dame Whina Cooper’s leadership, iwi economic ventures).
• Create a mini-presentation in te reo Māori about how traditional values guide modern business.
• Design a detailed t-shirt logo incorporating intricate Māori patterns with storyboards about its meaning.

---

Teacher Notes

• Encourage active use of te reo Māori throughout, correcting gently and modelling vocabulary.
• Make strong connections between learning and tamariki personal identity and whānau.
• Incorporate tikanga and Kiingitanga principles when discussing leadership in business.
• Use a calm, respectful tone with clear instructions and visual supports to assist all learners.

---

This lesson plan embraces kaupapa Māori values and modes of learning while fostering enterprise skills and cultural pride, fully aligned with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa learning outcomes for Year 7-8 business studies.