Governance – Empowering Māori Leadership in Governance: He Tukutuku Koiora Launches Search for Host Boards

Leading Māori associate directorship programme, He Tukutuku Koiora, is now seeking organisations interested in hosting the programme’s inaugural cohort of Amonuku (Associate Directors) for an 18-month board placement.

Tapuwae Roa (formerly Te Pūtea Whakatupu) launched the highly contested two-and-a-half-year intensive governance training program earlier this year with the aim of equipping aspiring Māori governors with the knowledge and tools to become resilient leaders in often challenging spaces.

The program now seeks to connect its aspiring Amonuku with experienced boards, offering them an opportunity to gain invaluable insights while contributing to strategic decision-making processes.

“Over the past six months, we have taken our Amonuku on a haerenga that delves into values-based governance, explores and grows their cultural capability, and demonstrates how we can exercise tikanga-led leadership across a variety of settings,” says Te Pūoho Kātene (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Tama), Kaihautū (Executive Director) of Tapuwae Roa.

“We are now seeking host organisations who are willing to join this haerenga alongside us and mentor our Amonuku, so they apply these skills and experience learnt throughout the programme in real-life situations. We are looking for host boards that share our vision for succession, and mentorship, and create a safe and supportive environment for future leaders to grow and flourish.”

Launched in February of this year, the programme received over 100 applications for its inaugural cohort of associate directors with only eight places available in the first-of-its-kind programme.

“Our Amonuku are a close-knit group of highly talented Māori professionals who were hand-selected from a large pool of eager applicants, and over this first year of the programme, they have taken on every challenge put in front of them and have grown from strength to strength,” says Kātene.

“We now want to partner with like-minded organisations that share our vision of growing the next generation to be effective governors, and mentor our Amonuku into becoming leaders of tomorrow.”