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Title / Explain the concept of tāonga to demonstrate cultural awareness in whakairo
Level / 6 / Credits / 6
Purpose / This unit standard is for people furthering their knowledge in whakairo. It supplements the Toi Whakairo and Whakaraupapa Whakairo unit standards.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: explain cultural concepts and practice; investigate cultural objects; and explain cultural aesthetics.
Classification / Whakairo > Mana Whakairo
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and safety prerequisites / Unit 2572, Demonstrate formal welcome to manuhiri through te reo,or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1Tikanga and kawa related to the content of the Whakairo subfield refer to specific interpretations and understandings of whakapapa, te reo, symbolism, concepts and representation within a whakairo context. They are distinctive from those within the broader context of Te Ao Māori.
2Glossary
whaikōrero ki nga manuhiri – oratory to visitors;
mauri – life force;
kāwai atua – genealogy of Ranginui and Papatūānuku;
kāwai tangata – genealogies of people;
ihi – essential force;
wana – conspicuous;
wehi – awe.
3Cultural institution of investiture is the Māori system of assigning mana to a person or object. Some of the criteria for acknowledgement include genealogy, expertise, age and quality of the object.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Explain cultural concepts and practice.
Evidence requirements
1.1Cultural institution of investiture is examined to determine the relationship between cultural concepts and the definition of tāonga that concurs with hapū or iwi traditions.
Rangecultural concepts – mauri, mana, tapu;
definition of tāonga – traditional, contemporary.
1.2Cultural institution of investiture is examined to determine the relationship between whakapapa and the definition of tāonga that concurs with hapū or iwi traditions.
Rangewhakapapa – kāwai atua, kāwai tangata;
definition of tāonga – Te Ao Kōhatu, Te Ao Rino, Te Ao Hou.
Outcome 2
Investigate cultural objects.
Evidence requirements
2.1Cultural institution of investiture is examined to determine the relationship between function of object and the definition of tāonga that concurs with hapū or iwi traditions.
Rangefunction – weapon, ornament, tool, utensil, shelter, storage, transport, burial;
definition of tāonga – traditional, contemporary.
2.2Cultural institution of investiture is examined to determine the relationship between the character of the object and the definition of tāonga that concurs with hapū or iwi traditions.
Rangecharacter – size, material, style, age;
definition of tāonga – traditional, contemporary.
Outcome 3
Explain cultural aesthetics.
Evidence requirements
3.1Cultural institution of investiture is examined to determine the relationship between aesthetics and the definition of tāonga that concurs with hapū and/or iwi traditions.
Rangeaesthetics – ihi, wana, wehi;
definition of tāonga – Te Ao Kōhatu, Te Ao Rino, Te Ao Hou.
Planned review date / 31 December 2021Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 5 December 1995 / 31 December 2019
Revision / 2 / 6 April 1998 / 31 December 2019
Revision / 3 / 19 April 2000 / 31 December 2019
Revision / 4 / 18 September 2001 / 31 December 2019
Revision / 5 / 11 March 2004 / 31 December 2019
Review / 6 / 12 December 2008 / 31 December 2019
Revision / 7 / 21 May 2010 / 31 December 2019
Rollover / 8 / 21 February 2013 / 31 December 2019
Review / 9 / 15 September 2016 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0082
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact NZQA Māori Qualifications you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZQA Māori Qualifications ServicesSSB Code 194 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018