He Manawa Māori – A Māori Heart

In February 2022, Victor Walker (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti) was contracted by IC to help the organisation with its Treaty honouring journey mahi.
The intention was to have conversations with Māori who have established relationships with IC and CLD to learn about their experience and what value, if any, Inspiring Communities has been, explore how they see Community-led Development aligning, intersecting, or supporting Hapū, Iwi, Māori development and to gather ideas and insights on the most useful roles, steps and mahi for others are in this space. This report is the result of those conversations, including key observations and recommendations for next steps.

19 interviews were conducted with Māori in CLD leadership positions. The conversations allowed Kaikōrero an opportunity to review the progress of their personal, Whānau, Hapū, Iwi and Māori community development over three – four decades to the present.

All speakers spoke candidly about the issues and challenges that had been, and in some cases still are, obstacles for them, to set goals for the coming decades and to consider a vision for future generations. Kaikōrero were also very open and expressive about the neat, innovative, and powerful and influencing mahi that they were involved in. They were quite free and frank about what needed to happen if they were to experience the ‘tino rangatiratanga’ and ‘mana motuhake’ they saw as essential to their success at a multiplicity of levels. 

Inspiring Communities thanks Victor, and all the contributing Kaikōrero for their mahi and insights.