Professional Learning & 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.
Ngā Ara Tuku | Programme Options
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
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 authentic application of Māori values within your professional context.
Online Courses
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.
Online Presentations
Focused, live online sessions tailored to your identified development priorities. From Matariki and language revitalisation to core pronunciation and regional narratives, these presentations provide accessible, practical learning for teams at all levels of experience.
Wānanga Marae
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
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 implementation pathways.
Ngā Kaupapa Ako Learning Areas
Language Development
Build confidence using te reo Māori appropriately at work, supporting inclusive communication and reflecting Aotearoa’s bicultural context.
Protocols & Practices
Understand tikanga Māori and apply key practices with confidence, integrity, and respect in everyday organisational and stakeholder contexts.
Māori Values
Explore how Māori values inform ethical, relational practice and strengthen alignment between organisational values and everyday behaviour.
Structure & Origins
Understand the foundations of Māori society, including leadership, relationships, and systems, to engage effectively with Māori communities.
Perspectives & Views
Explore Māori worldviews to better understand relationships, leadership, and decision-making within bicultural and Māori-engaged environments.
The Treaty of Waitangi
Understand Aotearoa’s colonial history and Te Tiriti o Waitangi to inform responsible governance, partnership, and organisational practice.
Equity & Equality
Examine equity, systemic racism, and bias in Aotearoa to support fairer, more inclusive organisational practices.
Māori Engagement
Develop strategic Māori stakeholder engagement approaches that are grounded, respectful, authentic, and aligned with Māori systems and expectations.
Robert Rose
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Why Organisations Choose Poutawa
Organisations across Aotearoa choose Poutawa for our depth of expertise, integrity of practice, and purposeful approach to professional learning.
More than teaching - building connection
Purposeful use of time and learning opportunities
Relevant, current, and well-informed practice
Mana-enhancing and inclusive delivery
Trusted experience across Aotearoa
Highly qualified facilitators and programme designers
What Our Programmes Offer
Our programmes are designed to deliver meaningful, practical impact for organisations across Aotearoa.
Each programme is co-designed to reflect your context, priorities, and ways of working, ensuring learning is relevant, purposeful, and embedded rather than isolated sesssions.
Branded resources and dedicated learning platforms
Strategic engagement capability
Purpose-built, applied learning
Flexible, context-responsive delivery
Getting Started
1
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.
2
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.
3
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.
4
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.
5
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 | FEATURED PROGRAMMES
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Poutawa delivers expert professional learning in te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori to support organisations, educators and communities to achieve their goals and aspirations. With extensive experience across education, government, and corporate sectors, we design high-impact programmes that build cultural capability and confident engagement with te ao Māori.
Grounded in tikanga and proven practice, our work creates meaningful, lasting impact across your organisation and communities.We offer a wide range of delivery options — online and face-to-face, short-term workshops, leadership programmes, and long-term strategic partnerships — all tailored to meet your organisation’s goals and aspirations.
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Ka tō, Ka Hua
Te Reo Māori for Educators
A 7 week online couse for educators to build their understanding of te reo Māori and incoporate authentic language and activites into their classrooms and curriculum.
Te Kai a Te Rangatira
Te Reo Māori for Principals & Senior Leaders
A 5 week online course designed for educational professionals wanting to embed authentic lanauge and culture into their school communities.
Te Reo ki Tua
Bay of Plenty Regional Council
10 week block courses, delivered throughout the year, for Levels1, 2, 3 & 4 to strengthen kaimahi understnading of te reo and tikanga Māori to support organisatal operations and stakeholder engagement.
Tū Māia
Oranga Tamariki
An 18-week NZQA-accredited programme supporting Oranga Tamariki kaimahi to deepen cultural understanding and authentically connect with tamariki and whānau through values-based practice.
Te Reo Mataora
The Ministry of Health
10 week block courses, delivered throughout the year, designed for the Ministry of Health to broaden understanding of te reo, tikanga and mātauranga Māori to support their organisations goals and responsibilities.