Mai Mana Australia: Strengthening Māori Cultural Connection

Are you searching for a culturally safe space where you can deepen your cultural connection with Māori in Australia, Māori in Aotearoa, and immerse yourself in an environment to deepen your cultural connection and identity as Māori? Then the Mai Mana programme is for you.

Over six two-hour online sessions delivered over six weeks, the Mai Mana programme is dedicated to connecting you with Māori in Australia and Aotearoa where you can share your experiences as Māori living in Australia, deepen your cultural connections, and express your unique cultural identity as Māori with others.

You can expect laughter, kōrero, and manaakitanga as we explore the essence of Māori culture and cultural identity in a safe and welcoming environment. Join this special kaupapa to grow your knowledge, deepen your cultural connections, and experience true whanaungatanga with like-minded people.

During Mai Mana you will:

• Build cultural connections and whanaungatanga with Māori: Actively build relationships by connecting with Māori to share life experiences and deepen your cultural connections.

• Explore Māori cultural origins: Deepen your understanding of Māori origin stories and whakapapa (genealogy). 

• Explore Māori values: Explore the uniqueness of mana as a cultural concept unique to Māori, and how Māori values like Manaakitanga (care), Whanaungatanga (relationships/belonging), and Rangatiratanga (Leadership) can make us stand out in unfamiliar environments.

• Practice te reo and tikanga Māori: Practice Te Reo Māori (greetings, pronunciation) and understand the vital role of Tikanga (customs) in showing respect and guiding correct practice. 

• Learn about Aotearoa and New Zealand history: Explore Aotearoa New Zealand history, including He Whakapūtanga o Te Rangatiratanga o Niu Tireni (the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand),Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi), and the impact of post Te Tiriti o Waitangi colonialism on Māori.

• Strengthen your identity as Māori in Australia: Explore the unique history of Māori migration to Australia and gain practical strategies for confidently 'Living as Māori' while successfully walking in two worlds. We examine political, social, economic and cultural issues that are relevant today (e.g. Toitū Te Tiriti movement) and the impact on Māori not only in Aotearoa, but across Australia, and the globe.    

• Acknowledge First Nations: Learn about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to build respectful relationships on their traditional lands.

• Develop your Mai Mana plan: Create a Mai Mana plan dedicated to deepening your cultural identity as Māori and connection to Māori in Australia and Aotearoa.

Programme Overview

Session One: Introduction and Whanaungatanga 

• Get to know your Mai Mana whānau.  Explore the importance of whanaungatanga and deepening cultural connections as the foundation for cultural identity and connection.   Discuss and share your reasons for joining the Mai Mana kaupapa and get introduced to the Mai Mana programme and content.  

Session Two: Te Ao Māori - The Māori World  

• Explore Māori cultural origins and migration stories, and how these narratives shape identity, whakapapa, and belonging.  We look at Māori values and cultural concepts and explore key aspects of what makes us unique as Māori.   We examine key aspects of Te Ao Māori and provide an introduction to te reo and tikanga Māori.        

Session Three: Aotearoa and New Zealand History 

• Look into the historical journey of Māori to Aotearoa, the evolution of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand. We look back at He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi and examine the impact of colonisation post Te Tiriti o Waitangi.  We look at the negative impact of the NZ Land Wars on Māori and analyse a case study around the events of Parihaka.  We discuss the impact of intergenerational trauma on Māori today.      

Session Four: Māori today - Toitū Te Tiriti 

• What does it mean to be Māori today?  Examine the status and role of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in contemporary society, and the challenges we face as Māori today.  We examine Māori movements like Toitū te Tiriti and others and the role we play as Māori to continue to uphold and reinforce our unique status as tangata whenua.  

Session Five:  Being Māori in Australia   

• We share experiences of living in Australia as Māori and what that means. How do we strengthen and deepen our cultural connections with whānau and Aotearoa?  What opportunities exist in Australia and what does that look like?  We look at the importance of acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia and the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and Māori.    

Session Six:  Mai Mana Action Plan 

• Personal reflections and insights on your Mai Mana journey.  Bring together your learnings into your own Mai Mana plan that deepens cultural connections and enhances cultural identity and whanaungatanga with others.

This programme is suited for:

• Māori in Australia who want to strengthen their connection to culture, identity, and community.

• Whānau and individuals seeking a safe, welcoming space where you can ask questions, learn the basics, and build confidence in being Māori.

• Professionals and organisations with Māori staff or clients, wanting to better engage with and support Māori communities in Australia.

• Educators, community leaders, and service providers who work with Māori learners, families, and communities, and want to be more culturally responsive.

• Anyone interested in learning about Māori culture and the values that connect Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, including the importance of respecting First Nations peoples as the custodians of the land.

Join us on the Mai Mana journey and deepen your cultural connection and unique identity as Māori, both in an Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand context.