… your Te Pumaomao programme is hugely influential for me, as I work on my skills progression project…. Your enthusiasm for this learning journey and self-development certainly has ripple effects for me beyond my work life into my personal life. I am way more open to talking about my learning journey in and out of work.
I am most grateful to have had the opportunity to be with you for the two Marae days at the beginning of 2016 and one follow up day in November 2018. I attended again last week, 3 October 2019, which I very much appreciated. When I sum up what I have learned both professionally and personally, I would say that continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection: bit by bit, I will gain more understanding of Māori worldview, Tikanga and Reo alongside non- Māori.
As you aware, your Te Pumaomao programme is hugely influential for me, as I work on my skills progression project; A New Zealand born, Pākehā SLT, setting out to demonstrate leadership in the area of critical self-reflection for my own personal journey of cultural responsiveness and humility for my daily work with Māori whānau, kaiako and kaimahi.
THE WHY
Te Iho Pumanawa Follow Up day is the perfect opportunity for practitioners to get together for developing self-awareness of the continuous learning journey: reflection on progress to date – but what’s next!?
– ‘where I’m at’; what’s my individual and team awareness of adaptations we make and awareness of my own culture in my interactions and engagement with others
– How we work together to utilise our particular strengths, skills and knowledge
– discussion around the identifying outer supports that help maintaining and sustaining our growing skills within specific educational settings: Tikanga & Reo will always be a growing area for non-Māori speaking practitioners like myself.
– What have others done in my office / region previously?
Listening to experiences of others.
Looking at frameworks, articles & resources shared by others
Looking at what’s already available regarding particular approaches and resources in our region.
THE HOW
– You create a friendly, non-threatening atmosphere to explore the many ‘bicultural layers’ in Aotearoa New Zealand (and also opens up thinking around multiculturalism).
– I have thought about the kind, genuine and intentional way you deliver the key message of gentle and genuine heart – being kind and warm around our work with Maori makes the difference.
– Whanaungatanga, engagement and connection with fun and humour, without needed to use Te Reo (but encouraged if you can), e.g. – tell a joke, making up a wave. (I plan to give out certificates at the end of my workshops as Takawai does from now on)
– The way you work together and share stories of your experiences from both Māori & Pāhekā perspectives, from yesteryear and recent times is so very inspiring.
– You promote use of Te Reo Māori with correct pronunciation but in a nonthreatening way. I love the clever tricks: e.g. ‘reo’ ends in the o sound – as in awesome. (I have been practising this already)
– It is very clever the way you refer to CB and OF so people don’t have to be nervous about using the terms Māori & Pākehā.
– Demystifying Māori worldview for those who are non- Māori, e.g. how Hui and opened with three realms: The living, the dead (ancestors) & the Gods
I would be interested in your OF pepeha framework.
Your enthusiasm for this learning journey and self-development certainly has ripple effects for me beyond my work life into my personal life. I am way more open to talking about my learning journey in and out of work.
You show that learning will happen in achievable manageable chunks with encouragement to keep going!
I came across this today in an email sent from our National office, which seems appropriate to end on
“He whakapiri i te kāhui
He whakapai i te whare
He whakapakari i te tangata”
“Bring us close together
nurture our whare and
strengthen us as a people”
Ngā mihi nui,
Heidi
Te Pumaomao Nation Building Seminars 