Te Whare Kauhoe

I’ve spent over 20 years in and around the water

Not just as a swimmer, but as someone deeply committed to the safety and well-being of our people. From a young age, I was fortunate to compete at some of the highest levels in the country, winning multiple national gold medals. But as I grew older, my perspective shifted. I started to see the heartbreaking statistics around Māori drowning, and I knew I couldn’t stay silent or still.

In 2022, I took a leap and enrolled at Te Wānanga Takiura to strengthen my reo Māori, because I knew that to make real, lasting change, our tamariki deserved to learn in a space grounded in our reo and our world view. That decision led to the birth of Te Whare Kauhoe – a fully immersive Māori swim school built on kaupapa, aroha, and purpose.

I’ve been coaching for two decades, in both community swim schools and competitive clubs. But this kaupapa isn’t just about medals or technique — it’s about saving lives. It’s about breaking down the barriers that prevent our tamariki and whānau from accessing safe, culturally grounded spaces to learn and thrive in the water. Whether it’s cost, transport, or confidence — I’m working to remove those obstacles.

I’m also passionate about building a team of reo Māori kaiako who understand that this mahi is about more than swimming. It’s about wairua, whānau, and whakapapa. Swimming can be healing – ā-hinengaro, ā-tinana, ā-wairua – and I’ve seen firsthand the confidence and transformation that can come from time in the water.

This isn’t just what I do — it’s who I am. I love the water. Like so many of our people, I feel a deep connection to it. And I want every whānau, every tamaiti, to feel safe, strong, and seen in that space. My dream is simple: to turn the tide on our drowning statistics, to uncover hidden talent in the sport, and to create a place where our whānau can heal, grow, and thrive together.

Join Us

Meet our talented instructors

Keitiria McColl

Instructor

I’ve been coaching for two decades, in both community swim schools and competitive clubs. But this kaupapa isn’t just about medals or technique — it’s about saving lives. It’s about breaking down the barriers that prevent our tamariki and whānau from accessing safe, culturally grounded spaces to learn and thrive in the water.

Join us in making a difference

By supporting Te Whare Kauhoe, you are helping to break barriers in water safety, strengthen Māori well-being, and ensure future generations are confident and safe in and around water.

To register your tamariki click here

Our frequently asked questions

Our aim is to equip all our tamariki with confidence in both the pool and the moana. We provide them with the skills and mātauranga to safely navigate potentially dangerous environments such as rips, floods, and deep water.

We teach both swimming technique and water survival – from foundational skills through to advanced club-level training. Your child’s progression will be guided by their individual skill level.

Not at this stage. Te Whare Kauhoe is actively working to secure funding for a dedicated minibus to support this in the future.

All of our lessons are full immersion, delivered through a Te Ao Māori lens. Some of our administrative communication may be in reo Pākehā, as a few of our back-office kaimahi are still on their reo haerenga.

We welcome pēpi from as young as 6–8 months. At least one parent or caregiver must accompany the child in the pool during these sessions.

Āe – we do. Adult classes are available on request and are delivered bilingually to support all whānau, including those on their own reo Māori journey. Please email us directly to enquire.

You can register your tamaiti any time up until the day before the term begins. If you’re joining mid-term, kei te pai – just email us and we can assist with your registration.

Currently, Mondays and Tuesdays are dedicated to bulk bookings for kōhanga reo, puna reo, and kura kaupapa Māori. We are available for individual bookings on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Yes, for now. As Te Whare Kauhoe continues to grow, we intend to expand into pools in West and North Auckland.

Āe. From 2026 onwards, our programme will align with the New Zealand school terms. Each term will run for 8 weeks. As this is our establishment year, we have had to navigate around the pilot programme and the availability of our local puna reo and kura kaupapa.

Not necessarily. Your tamaiti will initially be placed with peers of a similar age. Our kaiako will assess their skill level and adjust group placement accordingly to ensure the best fit for their development.

Contact
Keitiria McColl
keitiria@twk.maori.nz 021 194 5434
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