Reusable nappies that care for your pēpi, your pūtea, and Papatūānuku. 

Kope Tautaiao is a kaupapa Māori workshop that supports whānau, kaiako, and early childhood centres to explore environmentally friendly, reusable nappies. This 30-minute wānanga offers practical knowledge, cultural context, and hands-on guidance for reducing waste while caring for our pēpi.

What You’ll Learn 

• What kope tautaiao are and why they’re better for Papatūānuku
• How to use, care for, and wash modern reusable nappies
• Insights into kōrero tuku iho — how our tūpuna cared for pēpi
• How giving pēpi time out of kope supports their māramatanga tinana (body awareness)
• Everyday tips for whānau and kaiako to reduce waste in a practical, empowering way

Why It Matters

• A pēpi can use around 5,500 disposable kope by the age of 2.5
• Disposable kope make up 50–60% of weekly waste for many whānau and early learning centres
• Each disposable nappy can take 500+ years to break down
• $4,500 per child is the average spend on disposables — kope tautaiao can reduce this significantly
• Swapping even one disposable per day for a reusable one would prevent 1 million nappies from going to landfill in Aotearoa every week

This kaupapa isn’t just about nappies — it’s about reclaiming mana motuhake in how we care for our pēpi and our taiao.

Barriers and Solutions

We know disposables can seem like the easier option. But they come at a cost—to Papatūānuku, to your pocket, and to our mokopuna’s future.

This wānanga unpacks the myths and makes space for honest kōrero about what’s practical. Even one kope tautaiao change a day makes a difference.

Modern kope tautaiao are easy to use—no pins, no soaking, just wash and reuse. Our kaupapa reconnects us to the wisdom of our tūpuna: reuse, renew, and restore balance with te taiao.

Ready to Learn More

This kaupapa is more than nappies. It’s about whānau, whakapapa, and reclaiming our role as kaitiaki.

If you’re curious, or want to find a Kope Tautaiao wānanga near you, get in touch with us.

Together, we can raise resilient, eco-conscious mokopuna grounded in mātauranga Māori.

Para Kore in partnership with © Waste Free With Kate (2022)