Now I'm 5 vs Te Hekenga
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Now I'm 5
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Choose your immersion experience in Samoan, Tongan or English, and be captivated by the sweet voices of our older Pasifika tamaiti who share some magical stories of their imagination now they have started primary school. This is a collection of short stories written, illustrated and told by our tamaiti, for tamaiti. A great interactive resource for any beginning language learner, or as part of an education environment. There is fun to be had as your practice alongside our tamaiti, hear each word individually, or break down the sounds phonetically. Look out for all 3 apps in this series including; Bugs, Insects and Sea Creatures - created by our younger preschoolers Pasifika Stories - created by our older preschoolers Now I’m 5 - created by our graduates of Tino e Tasi Preschool These apps are the second generation of Pasifika language apps brought to you by the tamaiti of Tino e Tasi Preschool. Features --------------------------- Introducing the Samoan and Tongan language Produced by Pasifika kids for kids Fun and friendly sound design and music Educational No ads or in app purchases NEED HELP? Contact us: support@kiwadigital.com KIWA® is the world’s leading production house for experiential digital books. We partner with publishers and other content owners, using our patented technology to bring content to life in revolutionary new digital formats that deepen your child’s engagement and understanding. Check out our website: www.kiwadigital.com Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KiwaDigital
Te Hekenga
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Take your first steps in to a world of ocean exploration and migration in Te Reo Māori. Discover the rich knowledge of our ancestors in this unique geolocation-based storytelling augmented reality experience. Join your kaiako and classmates on a walking tour of your school to find items and unlock new activities. Take a leisurely walk to unlock the augmented reality experiences and audio stories through the new Te Mahurehure Cultural Centre collecting materials to craft into bonus audio stories. For students Complete activities to prepare for an ocean voyage and settle in your new lands. - Find items placed around your school to unlock new kōrero - Unlock bonus collectible crafting materials scattered around your school at the end of each quest to make a hangi For kaiako Follow the kaiako guide notes to create a unique learning experience for your class. - Lesson plans follow Te Rawenga – a Waka Navigation Framework - 10+ activities themed around: Charting, Waka building, Tools, Agriculture, Seafaring, Surveying, Structures, Society and Culture - Guide includes preparation, expectations and required references WHAKATERE Complete new challenges to gain a boost of crafting materials. - 2 new exploration quests unlocked by collecting geo-location waypoints - 2 new walking challenges: 1km and 5km HANGAIA Collect materials to build a digital hangi-pit and unlock bonus hidden stories. - Unlock all 5 waypoints to collect bonus materials scattered around the Cultural Centre - Earn bonus crafting materials by completing challenges TUHURA RAWATIA Discover 8 powerful kōrero developed with Te Pu-a-nga Maara on-site at Te Mahurehure Cultural Centre (Auckland). - 3 augmented reality experiences; 'Currents', 'Winds' and 'Stars' - 2 audio stories: 'Wildlife' and 'Seasons' - 3 bonus chapters for the Te whai a Tangiia (The pursuit of Tangiia) ARA Journeys would like to thank: - The NZ Ministry of Education for funding this project - Te Mahurehure Marae for their consultation - Te Pu-a-nga Maara for sourcing content and localisation Find out more at https://www.tehekenga.co.nz/ **This app is available in Te Reo Māori only** **An internet connection is required for use.** ABOUT THE DEVELOPERS ARA Journeys is 100% Māori owned and prides itself on being an ethical games developer. We work with Indigenous peoples, communities and businesses to create digital experiences that bring history to life, connect people to culturally significant sites, and preserve Indigenous knowledge and stories for future generations. arajourneys.com Te Pu-a-nga Maara is a Rangatahi led collective of Taiao Innovators born out of the shared aspirations of Makaurau Marae, Manurewa Marae and Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae. Established in 2017, we innovate in bringing Kōrero Tuku Iho to the forefront of Mahi Tiaki Taiao. By providing intergeneration learning opportunities, Te Pu-a-nga Maara supports Rangatahi to pioneer in the space of Kaupapa Māori environmental innovation and enterprise in Rangi, Whenua and Moana.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Te Hekenga at every 2 months against Now I'm 5's every 25 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Now I'm 5 ships an update every 25 months, Te Hekenga every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Now I'm 5 | Te Hekenga |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 25 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 83 MB | 235 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tino e Tasi Ltd | Amber Taylor |
In-app purchases
Now I'm 5
No in-app purchases
Te Hekenga
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Now I'm 5 free?
Is Te Hekenga free?
Do Now I'm 5 or Te Hekenga have ads?
Which is updated more often, Now I'm 5 or Te Hekenga?
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