<p>This article explores philosophical frameworks within Indigenous Māori culture and Wilhelm Schmid’s ‘Art of Living’. Māori frameworks, rooted in cultural heritage and holistic wellbeing, offer guidance on life, ethics, and communal values. Conversely, Schmid’s philosophy focuses on intentionally shaping one’s life in a beautiful and meaningful manner, fostering self-awareness and ethical living. Schmid’s concept of the art of living is outlined and reviewed in relation to six Māori frameworks. These frameworks span across health, family, leadership, happiness, and proverbial reflections, capturing diverse aspects of Māori life. We analyse these frameworks alongside Schmid’s to unveil shared principles and distinctive characteristics to bridge cultural differences and offer an educational approach to the art of living as a potential step towards addressing educational inequities in mainstream schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is the first of a series of three articles that explore the relevance of Schmid’s art of living model and Teschers’ educational approach to it for Māori students in Aotearoa New Zealand.</p>