Purakau, or Maori narratives, have shaped the historical accounts of Maori throughout the generations. Yet they have historically been misappropriated, misrepresented, and misinterpreted as "fables" or anecdotes" (Lee, 2008). This article argues that purakau remain critical to Maori, as they preserve the cultural repositories of past generations. Not only that, purakau offer Maori huge pedagogical potential, as they allow us to transcend time and space (Lee, 2005). Drawing upon research with Year 10 Maori students, this article unpacks how purakau as a pedagogical strategy enables Maori learners to explore their own perceptions about being Maori. Practical ideas for teachers in how to support Maori learners to use purakau to explore their cultural identities in teaching and learning programmes conclude this article.