Kia Orana all! This is a light-hearted update episode where I return to the mic and talk openly about juggling adulthood, the rush toward Christmas, and the pressure to make everything perfect. I share why consistency matters more than perfection and outline a renewed focus on delivering regular content. Lets go!!

Meet the boys from Kuki Learning, Charlie Charlie and Tom Harrison. Their mission? Keeping the Cook Islands Māori language and culture alive (because if they don’t, who will…Google Translate?). Both grew up in sunny Aitutaki, but their family ties stretch across Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke, and Pukapuka. Basically, they’ve got more island connections than Air Raro flight routes.

These days, they’re based in Aotearoa New Zealand, where they juggle real life with their side hustle of teaching language, culture, and the occasional life lesson nobody asked for. Don’t worry, they still fly back home regularly (mostly for island food, family, and a break from NZ winters).

Their goal? Share the language and culture worldwide in a way that’s fun, easy, and sometimes slightly unhinged. So if you’ve ever wanted to learn Cook Islands Māori without sitting in a boring classroom, you’re in the right place.

Got a topic? Flick an email to [email protected]

Bonus points if it’s weirder than the last request.

Web: https://kukilearning.com/

Social: https://linktr.ee/kukilearning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Language lessons:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kukilearning/subscribe

Bring me the ____? Apai mai te____?

Pot/pan = pāni 

frying pan = varai pāni

Plate = mereki

Cup = kapu

Fork = kokai

Knife = tipi

Spoon = tipunu

Lid = papani

Oven = umu

Fridge/freezer = pia anuanu/pia akaanuanu

Meet the boys from Kuki Learning, Charlie Charlie and Tom Harrison. Their mission? Keeping the Cook Islands Māori language and culture alive (because if they don’t, who will…Google Translate?). Both grew up in sunny Aitutaki, but their family ties stretch across Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke, and Pukapuka. Basically, they’ve got more island connections than Air Raro flight routes.

These days, they’re based in Aotearoa New Zealand, where they juggle real life with their side hustle of teaching language, culture, and the occasional life lesson nobody asked for. Don’t worry, they still fly back home regularly (mostly for island food, family, and a break from NZ winters).

Their goal? Share the language and culture worldwide in a way that’s fun, easy, and sometimes slightly unhinged. So if you’ve ever wanted to learn Cook Islands Māori without sitting in a boring classroom, you’re in the right place.

Got a topic? Flick an email to [email protected]

Bonus points if it’s weirder than the last request.

Web: https://kukilearning.com/

Social: https://linktr.ee/kukilearning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Language lessons:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kukilearning/subscribe

Meet the boys from Kuki Learning, Charlie Charlie and Tom Harrison. Their mission? Keeping the Cook Islands Māori language and culture alive (because if they don’t, who will…Google Translate?). Both grew up in sunny Aitutaki, but their family ties stretch across Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke, and Pukapuka. Basically, they’ve got more island connections than Air Raro flight routes.

These days, they’re based in Aotearoa New Zealand, where they juggle real life with their side hustle of teaching language, culture, and the occasional life lesson nobody asked for. Don’t worry, they still fly back home regularly (mostly for island food, family, and a break from NZ winters).

Their goal? Share the language and culture worldwide in a way that’s fun, easy, and sometimes slightly unhinged. So if you’ve ever wanted to learn Cook Islands Māori without sitting in a boring classroom, you’re in the right place.

Got a topic? Flick an email to [email protected]

Bonus points if it’s weirder than the last request.

Web: https://kukilearning.com/

Social: https://linktr.ee/kukilearning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Language lessons:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kukilearning/subscribe

Join the team at ⁠Kuki Learning⁠ as they work to keep the Cook Islands Māori language and culture alive; and share it with the world. Your hosts, Charlie Charlie and Tom Harrison, both proudly hail from Aitutaki and share strong family ties to Rarotonga, Atiu, Mauke, and Pukapuka.

Now based in Aotearoa New Zealand, they stay closely connected to the islands and frequently return home. Each episode is designed to teach you the basics of Cook Islands Māori, with bite-sized lessons, cultural insights, and real-life stories from two passionate educators.

Whether you're a beginner or reconnecting with your roots, this is for you.

Got a topic you’d like us to cover? Email us at: [email protected]

Web: https://kukilearning.com/

Other content:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/kukilearning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kukilearning/subscribe

Ready to sound like you actually know what you’re saying in Māori? In this episode, we cover the essentials: saying hello without looking awkward, asking “How are you?” (and actually knowing how to reply), introducing yourself like a pro, and even asking where someone’s from without sounding like a stalker. Oh, and we’ll wrap it up with a couple of handy exits: “That’s enough” and “See ya.”

I’ll say each phrase nice and slow, leave space for you to repeat (yes, out loud ; don’t just sit there nodding), and by the end, you’ll have enough survival phrases to impress your friends, confuse strangers, and maybe even hold a short conversation.

Conversation 1

A: Kia orāna, pe’ea koe?

B: Meitaki au. Pe’ea koe?

A. Meitaki.

Conversation 2

A: Koai tōou ‘ingoa?

B. Toku ingoa ko May. Koai tōou?

A. Toku ingoa ko Tom.

Conversation 3

B. Tom, no’ea mai koe?

A: Nō Aitutaki mai au. May, no’ea mai koe?

B. No Aotearoa mai au.

A: May, e aka teia. Ka kite

B: Ka kite Tom.

We speak with Teremoana Teremoana Jnr, a heavyweight boxer fighting out of Australia and representing his Cook Islands heritage.

Join the team at ⁠Kuki Learning⁠ as they work to keep the Cook Islands Māori language and culture alive; and share it with the world. Your hosts, Charlie Charlie and Tom Harrison, both proudly hail from Aitutaki and share strong family ties to Rarotonga, Atiu, Mauke, and Pukapuka.

Now based in Aotearoa New Zealand, they stay closely connected to the islands and frequently return home. Each episode is designed to teach you the basics of Cook Islands Māori, with bite-sized lessons, cultural insights, and real-life stories from two passionate educators.

Whether you're a beginner or reconnecting with your roots, this is for you.

Got a topic you’d like us to cover? Email us at: [email protected]

Web: https://kukilearning.com/

Other content:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/kukilearning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kukilearning/subscribe

Where's your ____? Tei’ea toou ____?

Shirt = pona

T-Shirt = piriaro

Pants = piripou roaroa

Shorts = piripou

Hat = pare

Jacket/Coat = pereue

Socks = totini

Shoes = tamaka

Join the team at ⁠Kuki Learning⁠ as they work to keep the Cook Islands Māori language and culture alive; and share it with the world. Your hosts, Charlie Charlie and Tom Harrison, both proudly hail from Aitutaki and share strong family ties to Rarotonga, Atiu, Mauke, and Pukapuka.

Now based in Aotearoa New Zealand, they stay closely connected to the islands and frequently return home. Each episode is designed to teach you the basics of Cook Islands Māori, with bite-sized lessons, cultural insights, and real-life stories from two passionate educators.

Whether you're a beginner or reconnecting with your roots, this is for you.

Got a topic you’d like us to cover? Email us at: [email protected]

Web: https://kukilearning.com/

Other content:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/kukilearning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kukilearning/subscribe

Where’s the _____ ? = Tei’ea te _____?

Brain = roro

Lungs = atemāmā

Heart = pukuatu

Blood = toto

Bone = ivi

Urine = mimi

Faeces = tutae

Earwax = taringa pata

Sweat = ‘ou

Join the team at ⁠Kuki Learning⁠ as they work to keep the Cook Islands Māori language and culture alive; and share it with the world. Your hosts, Charlie Charlie and Tom Harrison, both proudly hail from Aitutaki and share strong family ties to Rarotonga, Atiu, Mauke, and Pukapuka.

Now based in Aotearoa New Zealand, they stay closely connected to the islands and frequently return home. Each episode is designed to teach you the basics of Cook Islands Māori, with bite-sized lessons, cultural insights, and real-life stories from two passionate educators.

Whether you're a beginner or reconnecting with your roots, this is for you.

Got a topic you’d like us to cover? Email us at: [email protected]

Web: https://kukilearning.com/

Other content:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/kukilearning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kukilearning/subscribe

Hair = rouru, (rauru)

Eye = mata

Eyes = ngā mata

Ear = taringa

Mouth = va’a

Cheek = paparinga

Chin = tānga

Teeth = ni’o

Tongue = arero

Beard = uruuru ta’a, (uruuru va’a)

Neck = kāki, (karaponga)

Nose = putāngio, (puteao)

Join the team at ⁠Kuki Learning⁠ as they work to keep the Cook Islands Māori language and culture alive; and share it with the world. Your hosts, Charlie Charlie and Tom Harrison, both proudly hail from Aitutaki and share strong family ties to Rarotonga, Atiu, Mauke, and Pukapuka.

Now based in Aotearoa New Zealand, they stay closely connected to the islands and frequently return home. Each episode is designed to teach you the basics of Cook Islands Māori, with bite-sized lessons, cultural insights, and real-life stories from two passionate educators.

Whether you're a beginner or reconnecting with your roots, this is for you.

Got a topic you’d like us to cover? Email us at: [email protected]

Web: https://kukilearning.com/

Other content:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/kukilearning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kukilearning/subscribe

Join the team at ⁠Kuki Learning⁠ as they work to keep the Cook Islands Māori language and culture alive; and share it with the world. Your hosts, Charlie Charlie and Tom Harrison, both proudly hail from Aitutaki and share strong family ties to Rarotonga, Atiu, Mauke, and Pukapuka.

Now based in Aotearoa New Zealand, they stay closely connected to the islands and frequently return home. Each episode is designed to teach you the basics of Cook Islands Māori, with bite-sized lessons, cultural insights, and real-life stories from two passionate educators.

Whether you're a beginner or reconnecting with your roots, this is for you.

Got a topic you’d like us to cover? Email us at: [email protected]

Web: https://kukilearning.com/

Other content:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/kukilearning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kukilearning/subscribe