Our courses in finance and governance are helping owners achieve their aspirations for their whenua. With stronger formal governance arrangements, and owners who are more capable of making governance decisions, we’re working together to protect Māori land for generations to come.

Te Tumu Whairawa is a free financial capability course we‘ve developed that’s changing how owners approach finances. One course participant said, “Before, I knew absolutely nothing. When we looked at finances, I used to skip over it. I’ve now gone on to a level 4 Māori Governance course at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.”

The course is practical, with activities that are relevant to Māori land owners. The facilitators are experienced in the responsibilities shared by trustees of Māori land and provide insight into how course attendees can strengthen formal governance arrangements.

The Government’s Commission for Financial Capability funded by Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment was an important driver for Te Tumu Paeroa to get involved in its mission to build financial capability to ensure New Zealanders are prepared for retirement. Our programme, established as a result of He kai kei aku ringa, Māori Economic Development Strategy, has been designed to cater for people with all levels of financial knowledge; from those who don’t know what a trustee does to those looking to set up and run their whānau land trust.

We want to make sure people can take the information and immediately apply it. One attendee said, “All my siblings and I were setting up our whānau land trust, and it helped to run it.” Because the content is tailored and the course is accessible, we’re empowering owners to take more of a lead in decision making.

Course facilitator and Capability Manager Neville King says, “Māori have an innate connection to the whenua and the programme uses this connection to unpack people’s thinking about how we treat land and ourselves as consumers and kaitiaki.”

We see investment in education as a significant strategy to enhance and grow Māori land and assets. We believe you can’t develop the land without developing the people.

In partnership with Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, we’ve continued to deliver our governance training course, He Manu Taiko, to equip owners to fulfil a range of kaupapa Māori based governance roles. The course aims to transform experience into qualifications and build first level management skills.

During the year, 200 people attended these courses. The response has been great, and there’s a real thirst for more courses that empower owners to take an active role in managing their land.


More information about Te Tumu Whairawa. 
More information about He Manu Taiko.