Professional Development
Kia Whakawhanake
We are dedicated to delivering professional learning programmes that enhance cultural competency and te reo Māori skills within organisations. Our tailored programmes are designed to support both organisational goals and personal development, equipping teams with the knowledge and confidence to engage meaningfully with te ao Māori.
By fostering cultural understanding and language proficiency, we help create inclusive workplaces where staff can thrive, contribute to positive outcomes, and strengthen their connection to the communities they serve.
Our expertise empowers organizations to build cultural capability, align with Māori values, and meet the growing need for bicultural competence in Aotearoa.
Getting Started
Knowing how to create programmes and determining priority areas, is often the hardest part of organizational change. We have created a step-by-step guide to help you during this process, to ensure all of your aspirations are achieved with longevity and sustainability in mind.
Identify your priorities, timeframes, and resourcing
Identify the learning areas that best support your organisation’s aspirations. We can help you refine the focus, consider timeframes, and shape an approach that fits your context. Use out contact form to help guide you.
Connect with us
We arrange an initial hui to understand your organisational context, needs, and aspirations, and to confirm whether we are the right fit. There is no obligation at this stage.
Initial draft design
We then develop a proposed programme outline, including learning areas, outcomes, delivery approach, indicative timeframes and full costings for your review and feedback.
Programme development
Once confirmed, we design the full programme, including session schedules, workbooks, participant resources, communications, enrolments or registrations, and learning platforms. We can deliver through our systems or integrate with your existing internal platforms.
Delivery and ongoing support
Learning is supported with high-quality resources and digital tools to enable continued application and impact beyond the programme.
Kaupapa Ako
Te Reo Māori
Language Development
Build confidence using te reo Māori appropriately at work, supporting inclusive communication and reflecting Aotearoa’s bicultural context.
Tikanga
Protocols & Practices
Understand tikanga Māori and apply key practices with confidence, integrity, and respect in everyday organisational and stakeholder contexts.
Uara Māori
Māori Values
Explore how Māori values inform ethical, relational practice and strengthen alignment between organisational values and everyday behaviour.
Kōrero Nehe
Structure & Origins
Understand the foundations of Māori society, including leadership, relationships, and systems, to engage effectively with Māori communities.
Tirohanga Māori
Perspectives & Views
Explore Māori worldviews to better understand relationships, leadership, and decision-making within bicultural and Māori-engaged environments.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi
Understand Aotearoa’s colonial history and Te Tiriti o Waitangi to inform responsible governance, partnership, and organisational practice.
Rangatiratanga
Equity & Equality
Examine equity, systemic racism, and bias in Aotearoa to support fairer, more inclusive organisational practices.
Whanaungatanga
Māori Engagement
Develop strategic Māori stakeholder engagement approaches that are grounded, respectful, authentic, and aligned with Māori systems and expectations.
Ngā Ara Tuku
Our programmes can be delivered in a range of formats to suit different organisational needs, timeframes, and learning goals.
These options provide flexible pathways for building capability, whether you are seeking a focused introduction or a deeper, longer-term learning journey.
Workshops
Cultural Understanding & Māori Development
Interactive, regionally delivered workshops designed in partnership with your organisation. Available as one-day intensives or multi-session programmes, these workshops build practical cultural capability, strengthen pronunciation and workplace reo, and support the authentic application of Māori values within your professional context.
Online Courses
Sustained Learning Pathways
Structured short- or long-term online programmes designed for organisations seeking meaningful, ongoing development. These scaffolded courses build progressive te reo Māori capability, deepen mātauranga Māori understanding, and support the integration of bicultural practice across your workplace and systems.
Online Presentations
Targeted Capability Development
Focused, live online sessions tailored to your identified development priorities. From Matariki and language revitalisation to pronunciation and regional narratives, these presentations provide accessible, practical learning that engages teams at all levels of experience.
Wānanga Marae
Immersive Cultural Experiences
Authentic marae-based learning experiences grounded in tikanga and relational engagement. These immersive wānanga strengthen cultural confidence, deepen understanding through lived practice, and build meaningful connection within your team and with local communities.
Strategic Planning
Responsive Strategy & Alignment
Facilitated strategic planning that embeds bicultural integrity into governance, policy, and long-term direction. We work alongside leadership teams to align organisational vision with Māori values and develop clear, achievable pathways for implementation and sustained impact.
Coaching & Advisory
Embedded Practice & Advisory
Ongoing advisory and coaching support for leaders, teams, and organisations committed to embedding te ao Māori in practice. We provide tailored guidance, feedback, and capability-building to support real-time application, strengthen confidence, and ensure sustained progress beyond one-off learning experiences.
Poutawa is dedicated to fostering deep connection with te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori. We believe that language is the heartbeat of culture, and through accessible, high-quality educational resources and development opportunities, we empower both Māori and non-Māori to engage authentically with te ao Māori.
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.
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'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:
ngā hononga
our networks
We are privileged to work alongside a diverse range of organisations, professional bodies, community groups, and iwi. Each relationship is carefully nurtured, with the values of Poutawa at the forefront, to ensure meaningful engagement and impactful outcomes.
