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Waahanga one and two Engagement insights  

The engagement process in waahanga one and two was tailored to ensure that key iwi voices, Te Whakakitenga o Waikato representatives and leadership within the organisation were able to input and provide insights and guidance. 

A series of hui, waananga and interviews occurred between October 2022 to February 2023. Here is a breakdown of the initial waananga that occurred: 

8

Virtual and in-person waananga

40+

Hours of engagement

11

Targeted
interviews

142

Participants

55

Survey
responses

2060

Ideas
shared

Maatanga waananga insights  

Below is a snapshot of whakaaro and perspectives from our maatanga on how the structure of the Waikato Tainui Group can better reflect and support mana motuhake of iwi, hapuu and marae.  

  • Empowering our marae and hapuu: Providing opportunities for further education, training and capability building for our marae and hapuu.  
     

  • Monitoring and reporting processes: There is a need for improved processes so that Te Whakakitenga is aware of marae needs and challenges.  
     

  • Collaboration across marae: Greater collaboration across marae for more equitable outcomes.  
     

  •  Marae mana Motuhake: Giving power to marae to create their own mana motuhake.  
     

  • Tikanga-led leadership: Ensuring tikanga is embedded and understood at all levels of our structure and leadership.  

Tribal Futures waananga insights 

An online waananga was held with the Waikato Tainui Tribal Futures roopuu. Here is an overview of the key koorero and insights shared: 

  • Tikanga o te Kiingitanga: Our entities must be built on Kiingitanga values, tikanga and koorero tuku iho. 
     

  • Succession planning: Succession planning and flexibility needs to be elevated and embedded across Waikato Tainui. 
     

  • Te Mana o ngaa Marae: Empowering hapuu and marae to determine their own mana motuhake. 
     

  • Strengthening relationships: Investing more in relationships and the cultural growth of our people. 

Waikato-River-Awa-2022-iStock-1420316562.jpg

Some high-level themes drawn from the engagement in waahanga one and two: 

  • Tikanga o Te Kiingitanga: Ensuring that tribal aspirations and values are at the heart of the structure will ensure reinforce an enduring legacy under the guidance of the Te Korowai o Te Kiingitanga.   
     

  • Collaboration: To drive greater outcomes, particularly for the marae, opportunities for collaboration need to be strengthened. 
     

  • Decision-making: Help understand these tensions and navigate forward with confidence. 
     

  • Outcomes: To uphold the mana motuhake and tino rangatiratanga for our iwi. 
     

  • Resourcing: Evaluate how resources have supported the mana motuhake of  marae, whaanau and hapuu. 

Some common challenges being experienced by post-settlement governance entities that aligned with our Waikato Tainui experience were identified as:  

  • Balancing prosperity and well-being: The strong need to align our commercial, social, and cultural outcomes with the current and immediate needs of our tribal members. 
     

  • Efficiency and effectiveness for sustainable decisions: Recognising the importance of collective decision-making processes that allow tribal members to influence and provide input on these decisions. 
     

  • Balancing localised and centralised decision-making: Ensuring a balance between the needs of centralised decision-making and the importance of local, consensus-based decisions. 
     

  • Resource and capability constraints: The aspirations of the tribe are broad and there are limitations on what can be achieved with the current resourcing available. Capability and capacity development for the future are included here.
     

  • Lack of strategic alignment: Without clear strategic intent and alignment, confusion can arise about the organisation’s purpose, hindering tribal progress towards aspirations.  

The following characteristics were identified as key indicators of success for our tribal structure going forward: 

  • Embedding Waikato Tainui identity: Our structure must reflect Waikato Tainui identity and embody our history, whakapapa, tikanga and maatauranga. 
     

  • Creating space for transformative change: Providing opportunities for marae and hapuu to determine what transformative and tangible change looks like. 
     

  • Greater holistic outcomes for whaanau: The structure must enable cultural, social, environmental and economic growth across the iwi. 
     

  • Shared understanding and confidence in the way forward: The structure must enable clear and transparent reporting and reflects marae voice equally. 
     

  • Fit-for-purpose organisational functions: Getting the right balance of robust governance, timely decision-making and engaged communications to Te Whakakitenga o Waikato and whaanau. 
     

  • Support to achieve marae and hapuu aspirations: Increased support for marae and hapuu to build their capacity and achieve their respective aspirations. 

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