After the release of her third studio album Solar Power, New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde approached Marion and Sandra Wihongi, whom she called the project's "unsung heroes", with the idea of creating an extended play.

Lorde told Leonie Hayden of The Spinoff that the two Wihongi sisters "put together a bit of a document for me, just sort of helping me understand what would be right".

[1] Lorde had little knowledge of the Māori language, explaining that "it wasn't something that was a big part of [her] life, and it was something that [she] had sort of sadness and a little bit of guilt around".

[1][2] Hinewehi Mohi (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tūhoe) assisted in the creation of Te Ao Mārama, bringing Tīmoti Kāretu, Hana Mereraiha, and Hēmi Kelly onto the project.

[1] Three of the songs − "Te Ara Tika / The Path", "Mata Kohore / Stoned at the Nail Salon", and "Hine-i-te-Awatea / Oceanic Feeling" − were translated into Māori by Mereraiha.

"[1] Lorde explained that the Māori concept of kaitiakitanga, which loosely translates to guardianship, contributed to her understanding of Te Ao Mārama, saying "I started writing about jumping off Bulli Point, which was something that my dad had done, his grandfather had done, and that I hope my children will do.

The song's translator, Hana Mereraiha, explained of the Māori title that "'Mata Kohore' means sort of red eyes but also blurry-eyes, so when you're not quite seeing clearly – maybe you're over-thinking, or not seeing things so clearly".

"[5] All proceeds from the release of the EP were donated to two New Zealand charities, Forest and Bird and Te Hua Kawariki Charitable Trust.

Godfrey continued by saying that "it's vital that Pākehā speak it alongside us", and that "for that reason alone", Te Ao Mārama was a "pop culture landmark we should welcome".

"[7] Jack Gray, a Māori dance performer and choreographer, wrote in The Big Idea that Te Ao Mārama was "tokenism in full force".