Professional Development
Kia Whakawhanake
At Poutawa, we foster meaningful and lasting connections with te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori. We believe that language is the heartbeat of culture. Through thoughtfully designed, high-quality resources and transformative professional learning experiences, we empower both Māori and non-Māori to engage with te ao Māori in ways that are authentic, confident, and enduring.
Our team is a collective of experienced educators and language specialists, united by a commitment to quality, connection, and empowerment.
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.
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 or read through the sample learning areas and delivery options for inspiration.
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
Whether your focus is strengthening pronunciation, embedding cultural practice, or building more meaningful relationships with Māori communities, identifying your key development priorities is the first step in designing an effective learning programme.
We invite you to explore our areas of expertise and reflect on your organisation’s priorities. From there, we can work alongside you to develop a programme that is purposeful, relevant, and impactful.
Build confidence using te reo Māori appropriately at work, supporting inclusive communication and reflecting Aotearoa’s bicultural context.
Understand tikanga Māori and apply key practices with confidence, integrity, and respect in everyday organisational and stakeholder contexts.
Explore how Māori values inform ethical, relational practice and strengthen alignment between organisational values and everyday behaviour.
Understand the foundations of Māori society, including leadership, relationships, and systems, to engage effectively with Māori communities.
Explore Māori worldviews to better understand relationships, leadership, and decision-making within bicultural and Māori-engaged environments.
Understand Aotearoa’s colonial history and Te Tiriti o Waitangi to inform responsible governance, partnership, and organisational practice.
Examine equity, systemic racism, and bias in Aotearoa to support fairer, more inclusive organisational practices.
Develop strategic Māori stakeholder engagement approaches that are grounded, respectful, authentic, and aligned with Māori systems and expectations.
Ngā Ara Tuku
Programme Delivery
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.
Why Organisations Choose Poutawa
Our work goes beyond delivering content. We create meaningful learning experiences that strengthen relationships, deepen understanding, and support lasting change within your organisation.
We recognise that staff time is valuable. Our programmes are carefully designed to make the most of every moment, with focused facilitation, active engagement, and clear learning outcomes. Sessions are well-paced, purposeful, and impactful, with no wasted time.
We stay informed of current best practice, policy, and sector expectations. Before we begin, we take the time to understand your organisation and its context, ensuring our delivery is tailored, practical, and directly applicable.
We lead with empathy, care, and humility. Our facilitation creates safe, respectful learning environments where all participants, regardless of background or experience, feel valued and supported.
We lead with empathy, care, and humility. Our facilitation creates safe, respectful learning environments where all participants, regardless of background or experience, feel valued and supported.
Our team are highly experienced educators and programme developers, with advanced expertise in te reo Māori and tikanga Māori. All of our teaching team hold postgraduate qualifications at Master’s level or higher, bringing depth, credibility, and real-world experience across education and professional learning contexts.
Organisations across Aotearoa choose Poutawa for our depth of expertise, integrity of practice, and purposeful approach to professional learning.
Our Clients
What Our Programmes Offer
Purpose-built, applied learning
Flexible, context-responsive delivery
Branded resources and dedicated learning platforms
Strategic engagement capability
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.
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.
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.
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 understanding 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
Ka tō, Ka Hua
Te Reo Māori for Educators
A 7 week online course for educators to build their understanding of te reo Māori and incorporate authentic language and activities into their classrooms and curriculum.