ASB's new Te Reo financial literacy programme sets tamariki up for financial success

More than 160 children have taken part ASB's successful Tikitiki o Pūtea pilot programme, a financial literacy programme delivered exclusively in Te Reo Māori and developed with Te Ao Māori principles in mind.

Results from the pilot, an extension of the bank's GetWise schools programme, show the number of children who feel able to discuss money topics with their family has increased more than 50% as a result of participating in Tikitiki o Pūtea.

With a goal to normalise pūtea (money) conversations among Māori communities, Tikitiki O Pūtea is taught to primary and intermediate school children through interactive workshops with trained facilitators who are fluent Te Reo speakers. 

Results have also shown students' overall confidence discussing money has increased by more than 40%, their understanding about setting money goals is up 35% and their understanding of the importance of budgeting has increased by 40% after completing the programme. 

ASB Pouhoe, Te Waka Whaihua (Executive Manager, Māori Banking) Tawa Campbell-Seymour, who has been involved in the project from inception, says: "Tikitiki o Pūtea builds on the success of our GetWise in schools programme however is not only delivered in Te Reo Māori but the programme is underpinned by Te Ao Māori principles and narratives. This ensures financial education is provided through a Te Ao Māori lens and in turn resonates with tamariki within kura Kaupapa (full-immersion Māori schools). We're really proud of this kaupapa to uplift the financial capability of our rangatira o āpōpō (future leaders)."

"Accessibility has always been something we are conscious of when creating financial tools, and Tikitiki o Pūtea is one way we are able to help with this, not only teaching tamariki about finance and pūtea, but normalising these conversations amongst themselves, their whānau and their communities" says Mr Campbell-Seymour.

So far, Tikitiki o Pūtea has been implemented in four kura in Tamaki Makaurau, and ASB is seeking expressions of interest from further kura across New Zealand who would like to participate in the programme.

These workshops help children learn the fundamentals of money in four different stages - from identifying needs, wants and learning to save, right through to budgeting - giving them a solid foundation to build on.

Tikitiki o Pūtea is part of ASB GetWise, New Zealand's largest financial literacy initiative for children. GetWise launched in 2010 to teach kids how to be clever with cash. To date, GetWise has been taught in more than 1,700 schools and reached more than 45,000 classrooms.