Mō Mātou
About Poutawa
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Ko mātou
About Us
Poutawa is a Māori language and cultural development organisation dedicated to strengthening the vitality, confidence and everyday use of te reo Māori.
We design and deliver culturally grounded learning experiences, educational resources and capability programmes that bring together mātauranga Māori, effective language-learning practice and meaningful real-world application.
Our work supports individuals, educators, communities and organisations to grow not only their knowledge, but also the confidence and practical capability to engage with te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and te ao Māori with authenticity, care and purpose.
By connecting language with identity, whakapapa, culture and lived experience, we create transformative pathways for learners at every stage. Through this work, we contribute to a future where te reo Māori is spoken confidently, mātauranga Māori is protected, and Māori identity continues to flourish across generations.
Ratonga
Our Services
Poutawa is a kaupapa Māori education partner focused on growing the use and understanding of te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori across Aotearoa.
We design curriculum, resources, and professional learning that are practical, relevant, and grounded in real-world application - supporting people to lead with confidence in te ao Māori.
Reo Māori Resources
We create high-quality Māori resources that support authentic learning of te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori, designed for kaiako, to engage learners and bring excitement and vitality into their classrooms.
Reo Māori Learning
Our courses build confidence and capability in te reo and mātauranga Māori through structured, practical learning experiences designed for educators, organisations, and communities at all stages of their journey.
Professional Development
Purposeful and professional development programmes that strengthen leadership and cultural capability in order to support authentic organisational vision, growth, and meaningful change within Aotearoa.
Curriculum & Planning
Curriculum design and planning solutions that build strong foundations for growth to support communities, marae, and whānau to achieve their reo and mātauranga aspirations, to contribute to a vibrant and living culture.
“Kei hea taku manapou, taku manatawa?”
“Where are the seeds of my language?”
Te Pūtakenga o Poutawa
The Meaning Behind Our Name
The name Poutawa is drawn from this whakataukī, which speaks to the origins, vitality and future of te reo Māori.
Like the kākā carrying seeds across the ngahere, allowing new life to take root and flourish, language must also be carried, shared, nurtured and protected. Every learner, speaker, whānau, kaiako and organisation has a role in helping the seeds of te reo Māori find fertile ground.
At the heart of this kōrero are two seeds: Te Manapou and Te Manatawa. Together, they represent our responsibility to uphold the inherited essence of the language while creating the conditions in which it can grow, adapt and flourish.
Te Manapou
Te Mauri o te Reo | The Lifeforce of the Language
Te Manapou represents the living essence of te reo Māori. It carries the mauri of the language - tikanga, wairua, karakia and ancestral knowledge - reminding us that te reo is far more than words. It is a living expression of whakapapa, identity and worldview.
This seed reflects our commitment to protecting the integrity of te reo Māori while honouring the cultural foundations from which it comes.
Te Manatawa
Te Whakatupuranga o te Reo | The Growth of the Language
Te Manatawa represents the growth and evolution of te reo Māori. It celebrates the richness of our mita, the adaptability of the language, and its ability to express Māori knowledge in both traditional and contemporary contexts.
This seed reflects our commitment to creating learning that is practical, relevant and future-focused, ensuring te reo Māori continues to be spoken, strengthened and carried forward.
Ngā Uara me te Aronga
Our Foundations and Values
Our values guide how we teach, how we design learning, how we build relationships and how we care for the knowledge entrusted to us.
Whakapono
Belief, Purpose and Potential
We believe in the transformative power of te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori.
We recognise the potential within every learner and create environments where people feel supported to participate, take risks and grow in confidence. We approach our work with optimism, purpose and an enduring belief in the future of the language.
Tuakiritanga
Identity and Belonging
Language strengthens identity, connection and belonging.
We create learning experiences that affirm Māori identity and help learners understand the relationships between language, whakapapa, culture and place. We honour the different experiences people bring while maintaining a clear commitment to the mana and integrity of te ao Māori.
Manaakitanga
Care, Respect and Responsibility
We treat people, language and mātauranga with care.
Our programmes are designed to be welcoming, uplifting and culturally safe, while encouraging learners to engage thoughtfully and responsibly. We recognise our duty to protect the knowledge shared through our work and to honour the people, communities and traditions from which it comes.
Rangatiratanga
Confidence, Agency and Leadership
We equip people with the knowledge and confidence to take meaningful action.
Our goal is to develop capable communicators, culturally grounded practitioners and responsible advocates who can contribute to the visibility, vitality and intergenerational transmission of te reo Māori.
Tā Mātou Aronga
Our Approach
Our work is grounded in the understanding that meaningful learning happens when knowledge, identity, relationships and practical application are brought together.
Mātauranga Māori and tikanga Māori
Our programmes are grounded in Māori ways of knowing, being and relating.
Language-learning expertise
We draw on extensive teaching experience, curriculum design and evidence-informed approaches to language acquisition.
Practical application
Learners are supported to use their knowledge confidently in real conversations, relationships, workplaces and communities.
Responsive programme design
We develop learning experiences that reflect the goals, responsibilities and contexts of the people and organisations we work alongside.
High expectations with genuine support
We challenge learners to grow while creating an environment in which mistakes are understood as an essential part of learning.
Ngā Kākano
The Poutawa Team
The Poutawa team brings together extensive experience in te reo Māori education, mātauranga Māori, curriculum and programme design, cultural capability development, facilitation, stakeholder engagement and organisational leadership.
We are united by a shared commitment to protecting the integrity of te reo Māori, creating exceptional learning experiences and supporting people to translate knowledge into confident, meaningful practice.
Genae Thompson
Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Mana Whakahaere
Managing Director
Genae Thompson is a te reo Māori educator, curriculum designer and language revitalisation advocate committed to helping people strengthen their connections to language, identity and culture.
Her work brings together mātauranga Māori, traditional approaches to the transmission of knowledge and contemporary language-acquisition theory. She specialises in designing structured, engaging and culturally grounded learning experiences that support learners to develop both confidence and capability.
Through Poutawa, she provides strategic and educational leadership, ensuring that each programme is purposeful, responsive and grounded in a clear vision for the future of te reo Māori.
Tahau Thompson
Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Pāoa,
Pou Whakahaere
Lead Facilitator
Tahau Thompson is a highly respected te reo Māori practitioner and mātauranga Māori specialist with a deep commitment to the protection, practice and transmission of Māori language, knowledge and cultural traditions.
He is a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Māori and is recognised for the precision of his language, the depth of his cultural knowledge and his unwavering commitment to tikanga.
Tahau remains actively involved in the stewardship and transmission of kōrero tuku iho and iwi knowledge. His work is shaped by a strong sense of responsibility to those who carried this knowledge before him and to the generations who will inherit it.
Maysie Palmer
Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pikiao
Pou Ruruku
Programme Manager
Maysie Palmer is an experienced programme, administration and stakeholder-engagement professional who brings more than 15 years of experience working in complex, high-pressure and compliance-focused environments.
Maysie is known for her resilience, emotional intelligence and ability to bring clarity and structure to complex situations. She builds trusted relationships, anticipates operational needs and ensures that learners, facilitators and partner organisations are well supported throughout their engagement with Poutawa.
As Programme Manager, Maysie helps translate Poutawa’s vision into a professional and responsive learner experience, ensuring that programmes are coordinated with care, integrity and attention to detail.
Tō Mātou Hononga
We are proud to have supported organisations committed to strengthening te reo Māori and creating environments in which Māori language, knowledge and identity are respected, visible and able to flourish.
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Tā Mātou Takohanga
Our Commitment
We recognise that working with te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori carries significant responsibility.
We are committed to:
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upholding the mana and integrity of te reo Māori;
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honouring the whakapapa and cultural contexts of the knowledge we share;
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creating learning experiences of the highest educational and professional standard;
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supporting learners with honesty, care and high expectations;
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working collaboratively and respectfully with whānau, communities and organisations; and
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contributing to the intergenerational vitality of te reo Māori.
For Poutawa, language revitalisation is not simply about increasing the number of words people know. It is about strengthening relationships, restoring confidence, affirming identity and creating spaces in which te reo Māori can live, grow and flourish.
info@mysite.com
123-456-7890
500 Terry Francois Street,
San Francisco, CA 94158
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