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Title / Explain aho tangata to demonstrate cultural awareness in whakairo
Level / 6 / Credits / 14
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: examine aho tangata to identify tipuna; define tribal groups; and interpret whakapapa systems.
Classification / Whakairo > Mana Whakairo
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and safety prerequisites / Unit 2564, Explain whakapapa whakairo to demonstrate cultural awareness,or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Recommended skills and knowledge / Unit 2561, Explain taha wairua to demonstrate cultural awareness in whakairo;and Unit 2568, Explain symbolic representation to demonstrate cultural awareness in whakairo.
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
aho tangata – lineage;
taha wairua – spiritual perspective;
taotahi – recite genealogy in a single line of descent;
whakamoe – trace a genealogy and assign wives to males;
tomo – match making for the purposes of maintaining status or rank
tararere – female line only;
te uretārewa – male line only
tahu – direct line of ancestry;
whakapiripiri – condense (genealogy);
ara poaka – line of descent with three strands;
tātai hikohiko – recite genealogy indicating principle names on lines of descent and omitting others.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Identify tipuna.
Evidence requirements
1.1Understanding of whakapapa system is demonstrated by recording personal connections to nominated tipuna that concurs with tribal records.
Rangewhānau, hapū, iwi.
Outcome 2
Define tribal structures.
Evidence requirements
2.1Whānau structures are examined to define the extent of family rights, obligations and responsibilities that concur with whānau traditions.
2.2Hapū structures are examined to define the interrelationships between whanau and their rights, obligations and responsibilities that concur with hapū traditions.
2.3Iwi structures are examined to define the interrelationships between whanau and their rights, obligations and responsibilities that concur with iwi traditions.
2.4Waka structures are examined to define the interrelationships between whanau and their rights, obligations and responsibilities that concur with waka traditions.
Outcome 3
Interpret whakapapa systems.
Evidence requirements
3.1Cosmic whakapapa terms are explained to interpret evolutionary development that concurs with hapū or iwi tradition.
RangeTe Kore, Te Pō, Te Ao Mārama.
3.2Human whakapapa terms are differentiated to classify interconnecting systems that concur with hapū or iwi tradition.
Rangetaotahi, whakamoe, tomo, tararere, tahu, whakapiripiri, ara poaka, tātai hikohiko, whāngai.
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 Services you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZQA Māori Qualifications ServicesSSB Code 194 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018