Takiwātanga derives from “tōku/tōna anō takiwā,” meaning “in my/her/his/their own space and time,” and was developed by linguist and rangatira Keri Opai. Keri created Te Reo Hāpai, a te reo Māori glossary for use in the mental health, addiction, and disability sectors, designed to provide positive terminology from a te ao Māori perspective.
Takiwātanga is a mana-enhancing term that regards autistic people as taonga, unique individuals with gifts and strengths.
Although some tāngata whaitakiwātanga may present with similarities, each tangata whaitakiwātanga is unique in their own way.
The whole ideology of autism wouldn’t even (have) been something our ancestors (would have) been speaking (about) because it would (have) been a natural part of their society.
– Dr Pouroto Ngaropo
For myself, I have slightly shifted the definition from ‘a person in their own time and space’ to ‘a person who is in time and space in my own way’. Because the first seems to suggest a separation from the world, when actually what I feel is a deep connection, just perhaps on different wavelengths than some people!
– Anonymous
Caption: He Karu, He Taringa is a film about how a takiwātanga child sees and hears the world.
Visit our ‘for whānau’ and ‘for professionals’ pages for our Takiwātanga online courses and workshops.