About Us

A specialist Māori language partner for organisations. We equip people with practical tools to use te reo Māori with confidence in real conversations. We begin by listening, then build fit-for-purpose solutions that meet you where you are and support the shift toward confident, consistent use over time.

Built from a genuine community, formalised into a company.

Manawa Māori was founded in 2024, built on a community that began earlier. Founder Ella Sargent started teaching te reo Māori informally, working directly with learners who wanted practical, workplace-ready language rather than an academic course.

That early community became the foundation for what Manawa Māori is today: a specialist team working with organisations across Aotearoa to build language capability that actually lasts. We have stayed small by design, so every engagement gets the same personal oversight from start to finish.

A growing community, built on real results.

35,000+

People across our social media, courses, and network

350+

Professionals trained in te reo Māori for the workplace

15+

Sectors served, from health and finance to government

4.6 / 5

Average course rating across 138 survey responses

DELIVERY TEAM

We work alongside you to turn intention into everyday practice, shaping language pathways and support that fit your people, your context, and the way you communicate.

Ella Sargent

Founder & Director

Kahu-Rangi Watene

Verified Translator

Byron Belk

Translator & Interpreter

Ready to work with a team that knows this language deeply?

Whether you are exploring courses for your team or a language partnership for your organisation, a short conversation is the easiest place to start.

Schedule a Call