Strengthening Māori Governance through kaupapa Māori Wānanga
At Mather Solutions, every kaupapa begins the same way, not with PowerPoints or icebreakers, but with whakawhanaungatanga.
We sit, we connect, we share kōrero. Whether it’s through a whakatau or pōwhiri, we ground ourselves in the values and tikanga of the place and people who host us.
This is where the real learning begins.
Because for us, governance is not just about compliance or policies, it’s about relationships, responsibility, and rangatiratanga. It’s about ensuring that Māori organisations can stand tall in both worlds, honouring their tikanga while navigating modern governance expectations with confidence and integrity.
A kaupapa rooted in practice and people
Our Māori Governance Wānanga are designed to strengthen capability and confidence through kaupapa Māori learning.
Each 4-hour session blends:
The practical – roles, responsibilities, and boundaries of governance;
The strategic – long-term planning, investment, and accountability;
And the cultural – tikanga, values, and mātauranga that give governance its depth and integrity.
What makes our approach unique is our team. All of our kaimahi are active governors themselves, sitting on Hapū Trusts, Iwi Commercial Boards, Kōhanga Reo whānau boards, marae committees, Charitable Trusts, and large commercial boards. We don’t just teach governance; we live it, every day.
That lived experience, from the marae to the boardroom, allows us to tailor every wānanga to fit the people in the room.
Whaiti Kuranui Māori Land Trust
When the Whaiti Kuranui Māori Land Trust reached out, their trustees were already strong in their purpose, to care for their whenua and ensure benefits flow back to their people.
What they wanted was time and space to reflect, to deepen understanding of their governance roles, and to align their mahi under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993.
So, on a crisp morning in Tīrau, trustees gathered at Ruapeka Marae. The wānanga began, as always, with whakawhanaungatanga, stories were shared, connections strengthened, and intentions set.
Throughout the day, kōrero flowed around:
- What good governance looks like for a Māori Land Trust today;
- How to manage conflicts of interest with integrity and transparency;
- How to embed tikanga and values into every decision made at the table.
By the end of the session, trustees spoke of feeling more grounded, more confident, and more connected to both the legal and cultural sides of their governance role.
It wasn’t just training, it was a strengthening of their collective foundation.
Making capability building accessible
This wānanga was made possible through the Regional Business Partner Network (RBPN) – Management Capability Development Fund. This fund helps offset the cost of professional development, making it easier for Māori organisations to invest in governance training that reflects who they are. It’s a practical example of how access to funding can make a lasting difference in community-led development.
Where we deliver these trainings
From Northland to Ōtepoti, we bring our wānanga to where governance happens, around wharenui tables, in trust offices, and under the gaze of ancestral maunga.
We’ve delivered Māori Governance Training across Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, East Coast, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatū-Whanganui, Marlborough, Nelson Tasman, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Waikato, Wellington, and the West Coast.
Ready to begin your governance journey?
If your organisation is ready to strengthen capability, clarify decision-making, and embed tikanga Māori in your governance approach, we’d love to work with you.
Let’s start with a kōrero, contact Mather Solutions to explore how we can deliver a tailored wānanga for your board or trust – and help you access funding support to make it happen.