Whiria te Tāngata – Learning and leading

Opportunity for Growth

It was towards the end of August 2022 when I came across the Whiria te Tāngata application. The words that caught my eye and ignited my curiosity were:

• sustainability of libraries

• future-focused mahi

• built upon a foundation of Mātauranga Māori

• engagement and collaboration.

Opportunity knocks when least expected. However, no matter how busy you are time can always be prioritised for learning. My zoom interview was completed in my car at my granddaughter’s AIMs Games tournament. Then my first Zui catchups with the Kākaho would also be outside at her athletics meet and then at school camp.

Growth mindset

To undertake a learning journey requires a growth mindset and desire to do the work. Applying a growth mindset means:

• we believe that abilities can be developed

• we are comfortable with the vulnerability of learning and making mistakes.

• we understand the power of ‘yet.’

I am not an expert in applying the four Whiria te Tāngata workstreams underpinned by mātauranga Māori “yet,” But my knowledge increases as I engage in the mahi and collaborate with my fellow Kākaho.

Opportunity for learning

Working through each of the Whiria te Tāngata workstreams includes a process of self-discovery. When searching for what mātauranga Māori looks like in my organisation, I re-familiarised myself with the Māori names used for our Hamilton libraries. An example of this can be seen in my mihi | introduction.

Ko Kay tōku ingoa | My name is Kay.
He Ringa Tohu Service Supervisor ki Waiwherowhero, Te Ohomauri o Kirikiriroa. | A Customer Service Supervisor at St Andrews, Hamilton City Libraries.

I have discovered that my mihi does more than tell you about my place of work. It connects me to the land, and knowing its narrative helps me connect to the people within my community.

Waiwherowhero was a gathering place of the sacred ochre | kōkōwai for Māori that was found in naturally occurring iron oxide in peat swamps. Woven mats were set in the stream bed as screens in order that the iron-enriched water filtered through the mats coating them with a thick fine powder. The ochre was then scraped off the mats and baked in a hot umu | fire until the rustic red pigment appeared. Stories of our Sites – Hamilton Libraries

‘Puāwai’ is the name given to our Storytime programme. The meaning is attributed to the growth of a flower – to bloom, come to fruition, to open out.

‘Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai | Nurture the seed and it will blossom’

This whakatauki is the inspiration for my project, to discover what mātauranga Māori inclusive children’s programmes will look like in our libraries (while applying Te Tōtara Framework).

Opportunity to lead

It is a privilege to be nurtured by our support team, fellow Kākaho and facilitators. ngā uara | values are seen in all aspects of the mahi | work we are engaged in. Going into noho | overnight stays further develops my understanding of tikanga. Rising early for waiata practice, participating in karakia | giving thanks and whakawhanaungatanga | sharing gives me the confidence to establish these cultural practices to build kotahitanga | unity in my own workplace. As I journey forward in this mahi I add to my kete | basket many thoughts shared that add to my philosophy to lead:

O le ala I le pule o le tautua | Leadership through service | The path to leadership is to serve — Usoaliitaua (Danny) Tiata

Good leaders think about how to set their people up for success. Leading is more than information delivery. We give opportunities to create, make decisions and making connections. — Carol Scholes