Description:

Kupu first launched as a powerful and accessible language tool, celebrated for its AI camera and ability to bring Te Reo Māori into everyday life. Building on this, Riki Hollings shared Spark’s vision for Kupu 3.0, challenging the team to reimagine its future while staying true to Māori values. The result was Kupu Rangi, an interactive journey shaped by ako principles, where knowledge is shared through connection and growth. Each word becomes a star, forming kāhui whetū that reflect users’ personal experience with Te Reo, whakapapa, and identity.

The process was guided by Tikanga Māori, embedding whakapapa, kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, oranga, and kotahitanga across both design and collaboration. The app structure draws from Maramataka, recognising the moon’s influence on energy and learning rhythms. This approach supports a more intuitive learning pace, with star rewards adjusted to lunar phases. References to Matariki and Tāne placing stars in the sky give cultural depth to the constellation interface. To ensure cultural integrity, a proposed Cultural Advisory Team of Te Reo Educators, Iwi Representatives, and Tikanga Advisors will oversee Nui’s AI knowledge framework.

The design reflects ako, a reciprocal approach to learning, first in the user’s interaction with Nui, and echoed in the collaboration with Spark. Regular kōrero and open feedback helped shape the direction of the project and support a respectful, evolving partnership that mirrored the learning journey within the app itself. Riki Hollings described this work as a reminder that “The language is all around us and the thing that’s missing is just reaching out.”

Co-learning and collaboration were evident throughout, especially through Spark’s suggestion of Nui taking a more active role with users. This shaped Kupu Rangi into an app that feels alive, responsive, and culturally rich. The “Take a photo, leave a photo” campaign invites users to print Polaroids in Spark stores, share their learning with staff, and receive free data, supporting memory and community revitalisation.

Kupu Rangi introduces a personalised app design with a 3D interactive moon that changes colour based on learning type. As kupu are collected, they form constellations that visualise progress and encourage regular use. Nui’s voice feedback supports pronunciation, while the updated camera feature links language to real-life moments. Users can take photos while learning, stored in a gallery to help embed Te Reo through personal memory.

At its core, Kupu Rangi is an app that adapts to who you are, how you learn, and where you come from. Supported by Nui, users reconnect not only with Te Reo Māori but with their sense of self. This experience is brought to life through the promotional video “Kia Māia”, which follows a user’s journey of reconnection with language and culture, adding emotional depth and inspiration to the project. From the redesigned logo inspired by raranga and harakeke whetū to the promotional video featuring Marlon Williams’ waiata “Aua Atu Rā”, every element of Kupu Rangi reflects identity, whakapapa, and a shared future for Te Reo Māori.