Introduction to Māori Values and Tikanga in Care 

  • Author: R McLellan
  • Level: Introduction
  • Study time: 1 hour
Write your awesome label here.
Lesson series
This course is your starting point for working with Māori values in real-life care. It gives you the foundations, what tikanga looks like in everyday moments, how Te Tiriti shapes safe and respectful support, and why cultural safety matters across all settings. You’ll learn how to show up in ways that honour mana, build trust, and respond to each person’s iwi, hapū, whānau, and individual identity. Māori are not one group with one way of doing things, so this course helps you build confidence in asking, listening, and working in partnership. This is the first step in a wider learning pathway. For now, it gives you a strong, practical base you can use immediately in your mahi.
  • Video time: 45 Minutes
  • Quiz: 1
  • Assessment: 1
Lesson series

Why this course is important?


Understanding Māori values is essential for providing safe, respectful, and culturally grounded support. Many Māori have experienced services where their identity, language, or tikanga were overlooked, which can create mistrust and impact wellbeing. When we take the time to ask, listen, and work in partnership, we strengthen connection, protect mana, and uphold our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This course can support better outcomes for whaiora and whānau, builds stronger relationships, and lifts the overall quality of care across all settings. When we honour culture, we honour people, and that is at the heart of great care.
Meet the instructor

Roxane McLellan

Roxane is a New Zealand Registered Nurse with decades of experience supporting older adults and people with disabilities. Her early training focused on young people with physical disabilities, and over her career she has worked across a wide range of care environments, including continuing care hospitals, rest homes, and dementia-specific services.
Roxane has held leadership roles in both public and private settings, including as a facility manager and lecturer for undergraduate nursing students. She brings deep clinical knowledge, a calm presence, and a strong commitment to person-centred care.
Patrick Jones - Course author