Kaupapa guide all activity and development at Te Wānanga o Raukawa. Our kaupapa draw on our own understandings from the mātauranga Māori body of knowledge and the teachings of the Wānanga.

Te Reo is a taonga that we have inherited from our tūpuna, an invaluable body of knowledge, enlightenment and innovation. Te Reo is intimately connected with mātauranga, conveying important messages about the way our tūpuna understood and experienced the world. The acquisition, maintenance, promotion and revival of Te Reo are priorities for Te Wānanga o Raukawa.

Whakapapa reinforces the connections between us, and to our tūpuna, atua and tūrangawaewae. Whakapapa guides our efforts to better understand and contribute to the mātauranga continuum that binds us to one another across generations.

Manaakitanga embodies behaviour that is mana‑enhancing of those around us. Manaakitanga inspires us to demonstrate generosity, fairness, appreciation, respect and consideration for others in the way that we perform our roles and responsibilities.

Wairuatanga acknowledges the spiritual dimension in our lives and in mātauranga. It is embedded in the extensive web of relationships that weaves present, past and future generations together. Wairuatanga is explored, expanded and nourished as we strive to maximise our contribution to the survival of Māori as a people.

Ūkaipōtanga speaks to the significance of connection with land and place. Marae are acknowledged as places that sustain and inspire us, connecting us with mātauranga from our own whānau, hapū and iwi. We encourage active participation in our marae while working to create a welcoming environment at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, nurturing a sense of belonging and value among students and staff.

Pūkengatanga challenges us to be bold, imaginative and rigorous in our exploration and expansion of mātauranga. It requires the pursuit of excellence in all our activities, demanding the provision of distinctive, innovative and high-quality facilities, programmes, publications and services.

Kotahitanga flourishes when commitment to a shared vision is built and sustained. It expresses strength in cooperation. Kotahitanga is evident when we pool our talents and energy, working together in order to realise common goals.

Rangatiratanga exemplifies the attributes commonly associated with a rangatira: responsibility, integrity, generosity and the ability to unite people. We are expected to demonstrate and foster these qualities as we determine our collective aspirations and design strategies for their achievement.

Whanaungatanga reminds us that our accomplishments are typically the result of collaborative effort, made possible by developing and maintaining strong relationships. Whanaungatanga creates opportunities for each of us to make our unique contribution to the communal enterprise, enabling shared objectives to be advanced and reinforcing our whānau, hapū and iwi associations.

Kaitiakitanga urges Te Wānanga o Raukawa to nurture and protect its people and its place. It requires us to preserve and enrich those taonga that we have inherited, which have been created and tended by others. We must employ our resources wisely, ensuring that their use contributes positively to our viability and reputation.