The five strands of Te Whāriki are Mana atua | Wellbeing, Mana whenua | Belonging, Mana tangata | Contribution, Mana reo | Communication, and Mana aotūroa | Exploration. Each strand has dual English and Māori names; while closely related, different cultural connotations mean the two are not equivalents. Together with the principles, these strands provide the framework for a holistic curriculum. 

The goals in each strand describe characteristics of ECE environments and pedagogies that are conducive to learning and development. The goals are for kaiako, who are responsible for the curriculum in their setting. 

The learning outcomes in each strand are broad statements that encompass valued knowledge, skills, attitudes, and dispositions that children develop over time. They are designed to inform curriculum planning and evaluation and support assessment of children’s progress. 

Children construct knowledge as they make meaning of their world. Knowledge is cultural, social, and material. It draws on cultural, aesthetic, historical, social, scientific, technological, mathematical, and geographical information. 

Skills are what children can do; they are what make interaction in and with the world possible. Skills include capabilities as different as being able to move through space, make a friend, express an idea, or use a specific tool. 

Children’s attitudes are viewpoints or positions that reflect their values or beliefs. 

Knowledge, skills, and attitudes combine as dispositions, which are tendencies to respond to situations in particular ways. As children learn, they develop a growing repertoire of dispositions and the ability to use them in ways that are sensitive to the context. 

The learning outcomes of Te Whāriki include knowledge, skills, and attitudes, which combine as dispositions and working theories. 

Many dispositions have been identified as valuable for supporting lifelong learning; these are termed learning dispositions. Learning dispositions associated with Te Whāriki include courage and curiosity (taking an interest), trust and playfulness (being involved), perseverance (persisting with difficulty, challenge, and uncertainty), confidence (expressing a point of view or feeling), and responsibility (taking responsibility). Other learning dispositions include reciprocity, creativity, imagination, and resilience. 

Cultural beliefs influence which learning dispositions are valued and how Te Whatu Pōkeka highlights rangatiratanga, whakatoi, manaakitanga, and aroha as learning dispositions that are valued in te ao Māori. Others include hūmārie and whakahī. 

Learning dispositions necessarily incorporate a ‘ready, willing, and able’ element. Being ‘ready’ means having the inclination, being ‘willing’ means having sensitivity to time and place, and being ‘able’ means having the necessary knowledge and skills. Learning dispositions enable children to construct learner identities that travel with them into new contexts and across time, in this way supporting lifelong learning. 

Working theories are the evolving ideas and understandings that children develop as they use their existing knowledge to try to make sense of new experiences. Children are most likely to generate and refine working theories in learning environments where uncertainty is valued, inquiry is modelled, and making meaning is the goal. 

Learning dispositions and working theories are closely interwoven. For example, the disposition to be curious involves having the inclination and skills to inquire into and puzzle over ideas and events. These inquiries will often lead to the development of working theories. 

Learning dispositions support children to develop, refine, and extend working theories as they revisit interests and engage in new experiences. As they gain experience and knowledge, children’s working theories become more connected, applicable, and useful, and at times, more creative and imaginative. 

The expectation is that kaiako will work with colleagues, children, parents, and whānau to unpack the strands, goals, and learning outcomes, interpret them, and set priorities for their particular ECE setting. 

To assist this process, each strand is accompanied by: 

• examples of evidence of children’s learning and development 
• examples of practices that promote the learning and development of infants, toddlers, and young children 
• considerations for leadership, organisation, and practice 
• reflective questions for kaiako. 

Notes

³ In this document, ‘oral language’ encompasses any method of communication the child uses as a first language; this includes New Zealand Sign Language and, for children who are non-verbal, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC).
⁴ For children who are deaf or hard of hearing, ‘hearing’ includes watching.