Cultural Confidence Workshops

Whaia Te Tika

Bridging the gap: Kaupapa Māori Approach to engaging with Māori communities

This eight-part learning series forms the foundation of Iwi United Engaged's Cultural Confidence pathway and introduces participants to the key concepts explored throughout our Te Ao Mārama and Researcher 2 Kairangahau offerings. With a focus on health and wellbeing, it examines the historical and contemporary relationship between Māori and Crown agencies, institutions, and universities through a Kaupapa Māori lens.

Designed to strengthen cultural confidence and capability, the workshops deepen participants' understanding of Te Ao Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and meaningful engagement with Māori communities. Through facilitated discussion, critical reflection, and practical application, participants will explore approaches that foster stronger partnerships, enhance Māori participation, and contribute to improved health and wellbeing outcomes.

As the starting point for our broader educational pathways, these workshops provide the knowledge, relationships, and cultural understanding needed to engage respectfully and effectively within Māori contexts. Participants will leave with a stronger foundation for continued learning through Te Ao Mārama and Researcher 2 Kairangahau, supporting their ability to work collaboratively and confidently alongside Māori communities.

Workshop 1

BROKEN PROMISES AND WHERE TO FROM HERE

Unless it is accepted that New Zealand has two founding cultures, not one; unless Māori culture and identity are valued in everything government says and does; and unless Māori are welcomed into the very center of the way we do things in this country, nothing will change. Humans Rights Commission Discussion Report July (2012)

UNPACKING EQUALITY AND EQUITY

The foundation on which these people stand is unequal, and that foundation, might we even say systemic difference, leads to only two people being able to watch the game.

We need to understand that treating everyone equally doesn’t lead to equity, and in fact equal treatment often perpetuates, justifies and maintains racial hierarchies.

Workshop 2

DISCRIMINATION AND RECOVERING AN EQUAL PARTNERSHIP

The establishment's beliefs "only change one funeral at a time”… Grant Dixson. ‘In Aotearoa New Zealand, people have differences in health that are not only avoidable but unfair and unjust. Equity recognises that different people with different levels of advantage require different approaches and resources to get equitable health outcomes.” (Ministry of Health, 2020).

KAUPAPA MĀORI APPROACHES AND OTHER FRAMEWORKS

Māori responses to inequities are grounded in Kaupapa Māori principles that centre tino rangatiratanga (self-determination), taonga tuku iho (cultural aspirations), ako Māori (Māori approaches to learning and engagement), whānau wellbeing, respectful relationships, and the obligations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi within health and research practice.

Wānanga 1 | Workshop 3 & 4

POSITIONALITY AND INFLUENCING PUBLIC OPINION

The media affects how Māori see themselves and, indirectly, their collective health and wellbeing, and ultimately undermine the fundamentals of equity and justice in our society.

“Why is it so hard for non-Māori to accept that they don't need to police how ngā iwi Māori exercise their tikanga and cultural identity”.

“Many Pakeha don’t have daily experience with Maori and their experiences of what Maori life might be like is gained very largely from the media”

Judy McGregor : Human Rights Commissioner

CHALLENGES AND APPLYING CROWN FRAMEWORKS

Between the majority and the minority, the majority feel maligned.

"Racism is pervasive and everyday racism prevents us from living our lives in the ways we want to. It enables and maintains existing power structures that systematically disadvantage Māori."

Dr Rawiri Tinirau (2021)

Workshop 5

WHAKAPAPA AND WHERE TO FROM HERE

Ko wai ahau? self-concept
Life of privilege
Te Tiriti o Waitangi and broken promises
Equality and equity

Workshop 6

APPLYING MĀORI FRAMEWORKS

You already have a relationship with Māori.
You do not need anyone's ‘permission’ to engage.
Know your default and adjust accordingly.
Māori past experiences with researchers have not been great.
You can learn Kaupapa Māori approaches.
Māori want to engage.
Māori are interested in research.

Wānanga 2 | Workshops 7 & 8

APPLYING GOOD STUFF: FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE

This journey has not been about having the right answers - it has been about having the courage to ask the questions.

Using Kaupapa Māori approaches to get your good stuff to Māori. Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the foundation on which to bring tiriti partners together to do good stuff-mutual benefits

Te Ao Mārama

Building on the foundations established in the Whaia Te Tika series, Te Ao Mārama takes participants on a journey from darkness to light through the application of Mātauranga Māori in research and practice.

This advanced workshop series explores the practical application of the five Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles, supporting participants to deepen their understanding and strengthen their capability to apply Te Tiriti-informed approaches within their own work.

Across the series, participants will learn how to:

Recognise the presence—or absence—of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in research, policy, and practice documents.
Embed Te Tiriti principles into research design and planning.
Apply a Te Tiriti lens when analysing and undertaking research.
Explore the relationship between Te Tiriti principles and Māori Data Sovereignty.
Understand research planning processes that support Māori governance and stewardship of data.
Develop practical approaches that give effect to Te Tiriti commitments and Māori aspirations.

Designed for those who have engaged with the Whaia Te Tika series, Te Ao Mārama supports participants to move beyond understanding Te Tiriti principles and towards confidently applying them in research, evaluation, policy, and practice.

From understanding Te Tiriti to applying it with confidence, Te Ao Mārama supports practitioners and researchers to turn principles into practice.

Session 1

FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE: PARTNERSHIP

FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE: ACTIVE PROTECTION

FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE: TINO RANGATIRATANGA

Session 2

FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE: MĀORI DATA SOVEREIGNTY

FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE: OPTIONS

FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE: EQUITY

Researcher To Kairangahau

Building on the foundations of Whaia Te Tika and the applied learning of Te Ao Mārama, Researcher to Kairangahau supports participants to deepen their understanding of what it means to undertake research in genuine partnership with Māori.

This research-specific series recognises and prioritises the restoration and strengthening of relationships between Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti. Central to the programme is an exploration of Te Tiriti partnership as a pathway for addressing the disconnect that exists between Treaty partners and creating research environments that are equitable, respectful, and transformative.

Through critical reflection and practical application, participants will be supported to:

Examine the role of Te Tiriti partnership within research.
Understand the importance of relationships in achieving meaningful and enduring research outcomes.
Critically reflect on their own positionality, values, and responsibilities as researchers.
Shift from the role of researcher to that of kairangahau—a genuine research partner committed to reciprocal and accountable practice.
Strengthen their ability to work alongside Māori in ways that uphold rangatiratanga and support Māori aspirations.
Mobilise their skills, knowledge, and influence to contribute to the advancement of Māori health and wellbeing.

Researcher to Kairangahau challenges participants to move beyond the application of Te Tiriti principles and towards embodying the values and practices of authentic partnership. By centring relationships, reciprocity, and shared purpose, this series supports researchers to become trusted partners in the pursuit of positive outcomes for Māori.

From applying Te Tiriti principles to becoming a Tiriti partner in practice, Researcher to Kairangahau supports the journey from researcher to authentic kairangahau.

Session 1

FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE: PARTNERSHIP

FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE: ACTIVE PROTECTION

FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE: TINO RANGATIRATANGA

Session 2

FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE: MĀORI DATA SOVEREIGNTY

FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE: OPTIONS

FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE: EQUITY

Tino Rangatiratanga

The Journey Continues

The next chapter of this learning journey is already taking shape.

Whaea Misty and the IUE team are currently developing the next series, drawing on the insights, relationships, and learnings that have emerged through Whaia Te Tika, Te Ao Mārama, and Researcher to Kairangahau. As with each step in the journey, this new series will be grounded in Te Tiriti, Mātauranga Māori, and a commitment to advancing Māori aspirations.

We're excited to share more with you soon.

Kōrero Mai|Let's Connect