Te Wheke Moana — Freediving Programme for Schools

Eight tentacles. Rangatahi. Moana.

Te Wheke Moana is a structured ocean education framework for kura and schools, grounded in Dr Rangimārie Rose Pere's Te Wheke model and woven through with mātauranga Māori, marine science, and freediving practice.

This isn't a swim class with a Māori name on it. It's a framework designed for rangatahi to come out the other side knowing the moana — physically, culturally, scientifically. The eight tentacles

The eight dimensions of growth (ngā kawekawe e waru) we weave through every Te Wheke Moana programme:
- Ocean Connection & Hauora — the foundation: confidence, breath, and feeling at home in te moana.
- Safe Ocean Practice — what every rangatahi should know before they're in the water.
- Citizen Science & Surveys — hands-on marine monitoring with real data.
- Sustainable Kai — mahinga kai, fish ID, size and bag limits, kaitiakitanga.
- Ocean to Table — from the sea to the plate, including processing and preparation.
- Breath & Nervous System (Hā a Koro Mā, a Kui Mā) — the breath tools of our tūpuna.
- Identity & Leadership (Mana Ake) — finding your stance, your reo, your role.
- Belonging & Giving Back (Whatumanawa) — the loop closes when you teach the next one. Who this is for

- Primary, intermediate, and secondary kura and schools in Te Tai Tokerau
- Kura kaupapa Māori
- Marine education streams What we deliver

- One-off ocean confidence days
- Term-long Te Wheke Moana programmes (8 sessions)
- NCEA-aligned options for senior students
- Locally-led, locally-delivered Funding

We can help you access funding via Tū Manawa Fast Fund (Sport Northland) for rangatahi recreation outcomes. We've also been on the Trades Academy pathway with Te Taitokerau Trades Academy. Get in touch

This is a programme we design with you, not for you. Best to start with a conversation.

→ Email us to discuss or call 64 27 373 3348 Who's leading it

Sacha Williamson — SSI Freediving Instructor Trainer, NZQA Unit Standard 4098 assessor. 25 years of professional ocean experience. Trained the freediving instructors at Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust for nearly a decade. Partnership history with EMR, R. Tucker Thompson Trust, and the I Have A Dream Foundation. Safety, certification & accreditation

Freedive Aotearoa is an SSI Instructor Training Centre, AdventureMark certified, Qualmark accredited, and operates under a WorkSafe-aligned Safety Management System. Read our safety standards →