Tūāpapa | Our Foundations
Guided by our values, we create meaningful pathways for cultural connection and educational excellence.
"Kei hea taku manapou, taku manatawa?"
"Where are the seeds of my language?"
The name Poutawa is drawn from this whakataukī, which speaks to the origins and future of te reo Māori. Just as the kākā once carried seeds across Aotearoa to take root and flourish, so too must the seeds of our language be sown, nurtured, and protected. At the heart of this kōrero are two seeds:
Te Manapou
Lifeforce of the Language
This seed carries te mauri o te reo, the spiritual essence of our language. It holds the depth of our tikanga, our karakia, and the wairua that binds culture, identity, and ancestral wisdom.
Te Manatawa
Growth of the Language
This seed carries te mana o te reo ki te whakatupu – the power of te reo Māori to grow and evolve. It represents the diversity of mita, the shaping of grammar, and the adaptability of the language in both traditional and contemporary worlds.
"Kei hea taku manapou, taku manatawa?"
"Where are the seeds of my language?"
At Poutawa, we work alongside a team of highly experienced, passionate, and innovative practitioners. Our team members hold advanced-level qualifications in te reo Māori and bring deep expertise across the New Zealand primary and secondary education sectors. Collectively, they also have extensive experience working within tertiary institutions and programme delivery, enabling Poutawa to design and facilitate learning that is both culturally grounded and educationally robust.
Genae Thompson
Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Genae Thompson is the Managing Director and Principal Consultant of Poutawa, a kaupapa Māori organisation specialising in cultural competency, mātauranga Māori, and te reo Māori education. With a strong foundation in teaching and programme design, Genae brings extensive experience working across education, government, health, and community sectors to develop learning that is meaningful, practical, and culturally grounded.
A qualified kaiako who gained her te reo Māori through a full immersion programme, Genae combines lived experience with sound pedagogical theory to support effective language acquisition and cultural learning.
Through Poutawa, Genae leads the development of innovative, accessible programmes that strengthen cultural capability, support te reo Māori revitalisation, and help organisations embed tikanga and Māori perspectives into everyday practice with confidence and integrity.
Tahau Thompson
Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāpuhi
Tahau Thompson is a highly respected Māori language and mātauranga Māori specialist, recognised for his depth of knowledge, language precision, and commitment to cultural integrity. A graduate of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo Māori, Tahau brings advanced expertise in te reo Māori and a strong responsibility to uphold the highest standards of language use, tikanga, and intellectual rigour.
He commits to the stewardship, protection, and transmission of iwi knowledge and kōrero tuku iho through active roles in his iwi and supports kaupapa that strengthen iwi identity, leadership, and intergenerational knowledge transfer.
Grounded in mātauranga Māori and pedagogical excellence, Tahau’s work spans teaching, advisory, and programme design contexts. His approach is kaupapa Māori–led, academically robust, and deeply relational, enabling learners and organisations to engage with te reo Māori and Māori knowledge in ways that are authentic, respectful, and transformative.
Through Poutawa, Tahau supports high-quality reo development and culturally grounded practice across a range of educational and organisational settings.
Mō Mātou | about us
Whakapono
Empowering
Potential
We believe in the innate capability of every learner. Our work is designed to unlock confidence, nurture self-belief, and empower individuals to reach their full potential in te reo Māori.
Tuakiritanga
Celebrating
Identity
We honor and celebrate the richness of Māori identity, ensuring that our resources and programmes affirm cultural pride and strengthen connections to whakapapa and heritage.
Manaakitanga
Caring for Mātauranga
We approach mātauranga Māori with deep respect, care, and responsibility. Our commitment is to protect, preserve, and share knowledge in ways that honor its sacredness and significance.
Rangatiratanga
Empowering Knowledge
We champion self-determination and leadership. By equipping learners with reknowledge and skills, we enable them to take ownership of their language learning journey.
Kei hea taku manapou, taku manatawa?
"Where are the seeds of my language?"
The name Poutawa is drawn from this whakataukī, which speaks to the origins and future of te reo Māori. Just as the kākā once carried seeds across Aotearoa to take root and flourish, so too must the seeds of our language be sown, nurtured, and protected. At the heart of this kōrero are two seeds:
Poutawa is dedicated to the revitalisation, teaching, and growth of te reo Māori and cultural competency across Aotearoa. We design and deliver programmes, resources, and learning opportunities grounded in mātauranga Māori, tailored to meet the needs of both Māori and non-Māori communities.
Our kaupapa is simple yet powerful: to strengthen identity, empower learners, and ensure te reo and Mātauranga Māori continues to flourish across whānau, workplaces, schools, and organisations.
Our commitment is to strengthen cultural identity, build confident communicators, and support communities in their journey towards cultural competency and linguistic excellence. We honor the past, nurture the present, and sow seeds for future generations.
