Tū Māia
Building Māori Cultural Capability Through Courage, Reflection and Action
Whakamāhuki | Overview
Grow confident, culturally grounded reo Māori capability—at work, during work hours.
Tū Māia is a cultural capability programme that supports participants to stand with greater confidence, courage and awareness in their relationships and professional practice. The programme explores Māori worldviews, colonisation, systemic racism, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga and organisational responsibility. Te reo Māori, karakia, waiata and pronunciation are included as important forms of participation, but the central purpose is deeper cultural understanding, critical reflection and meaningful workplace action.
Designed for
Public service, social service, community, health, education and organisational kaimahi whose roles involve Māori whānau, communities, policy, service delivery or decision-making.
Course Dates:
Week commencing Monday 24 August 2026
Delivery Mode:
Blended: three one-day w?nanga, fortnightly online classes and self-directed reflection
Course Fee:
$500 per person
Duration:
10 weeks
Hāngaitanga
Why This Course Matters in 2026
Cultural capability affects how people listen, interpret information, build trust, design services and make decisions. A one-off introduction to cultural concepts is not enough to address deeply embedded assumptions or inequitable systems. T? M?ia creates time for participants to examine history, worldview and practice honestly, while developing practical responses that strengthen cultural authenticity, inclusion and accountability.
Kupu Ārahi | Guiding Expression
"Ka whāngaia, ka tipu, ka puāwai"
"That which is nurtured will grow, then blossom"
Cultural capability affects how people listen, interpret information, build trust, design services and make decisions. A one-off introduction to cultural concepts is not enough to address deeply embedded assumptions or inequitable systems. T? M?ia creates time for participants to examine history, worldview and practice honestly, while developing practical responses that strengthen cultural authenticity, inclusion and accountability.
Ngā Hua Nui
What this course covers
Whāinga Paetae | Course Objectives
Across the programme, participants will:
Explore M?ori worldviews and understand how whakapapa, whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and interconnectedness support wellbeing.
Examine the continuing impacts of colonisation on tamariki, mokopuna, wh?nau, communities and organisational systems.
Develop an informed understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, its historical context and its contemporary implications.
Recognise stereotypes, unconscious bias, systemic racism and inequitable practices within personal and organisational contexts.
Use critical reflection to evaluate cultural positioning, assumptions, behaviours and professional decision-making.
Apply anti-racism principles and identify practical actions that support fairer, safer and more accountable environments.
Participate confidently in whakawhanaungatanga, karakia, waiata and supported use of te reo M?ori.
Strengthen pronunciation of M?ori names, kupu and introductions as an expression of respect and cultural authenticity.
Connect course learning to real relationships and responsibilities involving tamariki, mokopuna, wh?nau, iwi and communities.
Develop a practical action plan for embedding culturally responsive and Te Ao M?ori-informed practice in everyday mahi.
Putanga Ako | Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
Explain key M?ori worldview principles and their organisational relevance.
Discuss the continuing impacts of colonisation and systemic inequity.
Recognise stereotypes, bias and practices that may reproduce unequal outcomes.
Explain the significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi for professional relationships and decisions.
Participate more confidently in tikanga-based learning and supported reo M?ori use.
Reflect critically on their own assumptions, positioning and behaviour.
Propose practical actions that strengthen cultural authenticity, equity and accountability.
He Aha Kei Roto
What Is Included
Live facilitated learning with experienced Poutawa kaiako.
Access to course slides, recordings and structured revision resources.
A practical learner workbook with explanations, examples and reflection activities.
Pronunciation audio, vocabulary support and language-modelling resources where relevant.
Templates, sentence frames and practical tools that can be used immediately.
Short between-session activities designed to move learning into everyday practice.
A supportive learning r?p? where questions, practice and mistakes are welcomed.
A certificate of participation following completion of the programme requirements.
Item Title One
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Te Wā Tuku
Course Dates
Courses commence during the week of Monday 24 August 2026. The indicative final teaching week is the week of 19 October 2026.
Class Option 1:
Tuesday: 3.30pm - 5.00pm
CLass Option 2
Wednesday: 5.30pm - 7.00pm
Participants enrol in one stream. Where space permits, learners may attend the alternative stream when they cannot attend their usual class.