Learning for life – kaupapa Māori training at Red Cross
11 September 2024
Beginning in February 2023, we’ve made kaupapa Māori training available for our members, volunteers, and employees. We believe that developing our collective capability in Te Ao Māori is critical to serving our mission – mobilising the power of humanity and building community resilience to improve the lives of vulnerable people.
Growing our understanding and confidence in Te Ao Māori helps us develop the tools we need to navigate our work alongside iwi Māori. It better connects us to the histories, cultural heritage, locations, and language of Aotearoa.
Designed and run by Māpuna Consultants, Aronui is a four-week course consisting of self-directed video lessons and online facilitated tutorials. It has three baskets of learning:
- Te reo Māori | Māori language
- Te Ao Māori | Māori worldview, and
- Te Tiriti o Waitangi | Treaty of Waitangi.
To date, more than 300 people have completed the training. Through the course, people learn about a broad range of topics and how to apply kaupapa Māori concepts to their work. This includes what to do at pōwhiri, how to bring tikanga Māori in the workplace, and what Te Tiriti o Waitangi means for our organisation.
Growing our understanding and confidence in Te Ao Māori helps us develop the tools we need to navigate our work alongside iwi Māori and better connects us to the histories, cultural heritage, and language of Aotearoa.
All sorts of people have taken part in the programme, from people who want to brush up on their knowledge, to those who’ve recently arrived in Aotearoa. For many people who’ve taken part, the biggest takeaway has been confidence – in pronunciation, understanding Te Ao Māori, and knowing what to do in given situations. It’s also helped people who are non-Māori relate to this place we call home and our shared place in the world.
Sahaab’s experience
Sahaab Akbar is a corporate partnerships advisor with our Philanthropic Partnerships team and was part of the first group to participate in Aronui training. This is his experience in his words.
When I moved to Aotearoa New Zealand after growing up in Pakistan and being educated in Australia, I was deeply inspired as I embraced the history, present-day culture, language, and values of my new country. Though I was used to swiftly engaging with many subcultures, and using both Urdu and English interchangeably in Pakistan, I wasn’t able to interact with Māori language, or understand and appreciate Māori culture, values, and practices in the same way.
Finding a career at New Zealand Red Cross meant I often came across scenarios where I was quickly out of my depth. At first, I simply couldn’t understand Te Ao Māori or reo Māori, despite being able to seek help from guidebooks and online resources. Basics such as how to properly greet and farewell anyone using Māori protocol, why some practices are how they are, as well as what’s respectful and what isn’t, all seemed like huge milestones along my learning journey.
I was fortunate to be among the first group to participate in Aronui training. At first, I was a little unsure and intimidated by the learning journey ahead – how challenging it would be for me, given I’m starting this journey in the middle of my adult life?
Thanks to the training, I was able to understand and upskill in three focus areas – Te Aoranga Māori | Māori world view, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and reo Māori. I gained confidence, practiced what I learnt, and began to develop a holistic understanding in these areas.
It was convenient to fit the sessions within my workday, which enabled me to fully participate and embrace mātauranga Māori | Māori knowledge as a learner. The focus on learning outcomes based on real life experiences and contexts meant that it always felt very relevant. This allowed our diverse cohort — with different background and exposure to Te Ao Māori — to quickly feel comfortable and engage in the activities offered as a group.
There was a lot of value for me in looking at and comparing different examples that included complex, everyday scenarios. The sessions were well-paced, with lots of time to reflect, as well as breakout into virtual rooms for practice. I looked forward to attending these sessions each week.
Aronui has helped me gain more confidence and skills – from volunteering to lead the opening and closing Karakia during hui, to addressing complex questions around better understanding our Fundamental Principles, organisational commitments, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. Its equipped me with the right tools and strategies, allowing me to express myself and represent Red Cross in a genuine way during all my engagements with stakeholders. I believe that I can take these essential skills throughout my life – making me a better person.
It’s encouraging that after almost two years this training continues to be offered. I want to thank the Office of Secretary General, Executive Leadership Team sponsors, and everyone at New Zealand Red Cross who’s been involved in making sure Aronui training is offered as part of our Te Ao Māori programme.
More information
- Our Fundamental Principles are consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Red Cross and Te Tiriti o Waitangi - Māpuna Consultants is a pākihi Māori | Māori business focused on strategy, research, evaluation, capability development, and urban design.
Find out more about Māpuna - Learn more about what we do in New Zealand.
Our work in New Zealand - Find out more about our Fundamental Principles and how they guide our work.
Our Fundamental Principles - Our employees support the work of our thousands of members and volunteers. Our career opportunities are as varied as our work.
Work for us - If you want to get involved in our work, join us! We have over 40 branches across the motu and volunteer roles to suit everyone.
Join New Zealand Red Cross
Find a volunteer role