Comparison

Te Hekenga vs Ruru

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Te Hekenga

Features
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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.

About

Ruru

Features
Read full description

We have developed Ruru as a rich resource to help grow our collective knowledge and confidence to work effectively with Māori. Our Purpose Kia toitū te haumi hei hua mā ngā tāngata katoa o Aotearoa. Sustainable investment delivering strong returns for all New Zealanders. Our Vision Mā te Kotahi-ā-kapa, mā te kounga-ā-haumi, ka tino eke ki tua. An inclusive team creating a better future through investment. FEATURES 1. Synchronised narration in te reo Māori 2. Swipe to read or Touch to hear 3. Record your own narration 4. Create your own pepeha 5. Export pages, images and audio to colleagues, friends or social media 6. Waiata with interactive audio This app was produced by world leading Cultural Services agency Kiwa Digital. For more www.kiwadigital.com NEED HELP? Contact us: support@kiwadigital.com

Screenshots

Te Hekenga3 screens
Ruru4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Ruru at every 2 weeks against Te Hekenga's every 2 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Te Hekenga ships an update every 2 months, Ruru every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Te Hekenga versus Ruru: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTe HekengaRuru
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size235 MB68 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperAmber TaylorKiwa Digital Limited

In-app purchases

None

Te Hekenga

No in-app purchases

None

Ruru

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Te Hekenga free?
Te Hekenga is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ruru free?
Ruru is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Te Hekenga or Ruru have ads?
Neither Te Hekenga nor Ruru shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Te Hekenga or Ruru?
Te Hekenga ships an update every 2 months, and Ruru every 2 weeks. Most recently, Te Hekenga was updated on November 7, 2026 and Ruru on November 8, 2026.

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