Training is tailored to meet the needs of: 

• Teachers and Teacher Aides
• Special Education Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) and Learning Support Coordinators (LSCs)
• Educational Psychologists
• Resource Teachers for Learning and Behaviour (RTLBs)
• Social Workers in Schools
• Speech Language Therapists
• Alternative Education
• Early Childhood Educators
• Youth workers

To date (September 2025), over 260 schools in Aotearoa/New Zealand have experienced Te Ara Whakamana with over 2,800 educators and professionals now trained in the Model, including in early childhood, primary, secondary, alternative and special education, and in adult learning settings. 

Te Ara Whakamana schools and practitioners tell us they have experienced transformational outcomes, including:  

• A dramatic drop in behaviour support referrals  
• Increased achievement outcomes in numeracy and literacy for Māori and Pasifika students  
• Increased school attendance and engagement  
• A Reduction in stand-downs, suspensions, exclusions, and expulsions  
• Successful outcomes for neurodiverse learners and their whānau  
• Embedded cultural responsiveness and greater cultural capability  
• Increased social and emotional literacy levels  
• Improved self-regulation levels (students and staff)  
• Authentic partnering with Whānau, Mana Whenua, and Iwi Māori  
• Improved staff and student wellbeing  
• Increased staff retention 
• Safer environments

If you would like to hear more about what Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement could look like for your school, contact us at info@akosolutionz.com to set up a meeting – we’d love to hear from you.

We also have a downloadable Te Ara Whakamana in Education Brochure here: Te Ara Whakamana in Education Brochure 

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Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement Training

Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement Training is delivered via 4 options:

• Self-Directed Online Training – a 10-module online course, available to start at any time 
• Blended Online Self-Directed Training – facilitated guidance and support (minimum number required)
• 2-day Facilitated Online Training – 2x full day training delivery – held approx 1 month apart 
• 2-day Kanohi-ki-te-kanohi/face to face Training – 2x full day in-person training delivery, held approx 1 month apart  

We also hold open online trainings throughout the year and can provide a personalised 2-day kanohi ki te kanohi/face to face training upon request – minimum numbers may be required. 

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A school-wide approach offering 6–18 months guidance and support for implementation and embedding

This approach ensures that the learning is not a one-off event but a sustained journey of growth, reflection, and refinement. Ongoing guidance helps embed the model deeply into daily practice, aligning it with your vision, goals and community needs. It allows for responsive adaptation as circumstances change, strengthens cultural capability over time, and builds collective confidence in applying Te Ara Whakamana, fostering transformational change that is positive, lasting, and honours the cultural integrity and voices of all. 

Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement, as a school-wide approach, brings together board of trustees, principals, senior management, Mana Whenua, teachers and support staff, whānau, and support services, to create an environment prepared for transformational success.

Training in Te Ara Whakamana is delivered in two parts:

Part 1: Foundation Training – setting up for success (4-6 months)

Foundation training begins by planning with senior management and inclusion of local Mana Whenua, where we meet to introduce the kaupapa and seek support with implementation of local knowledge, pūrākau, waiata, karakia, protocols and practices to create greater confidence and cultural safety for all concerned. 
 
We then begin the 2-part Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement Training (either online self-directed, blended, or kanohi ki te kanohi/in-person delivery). We continue with online whole of staff support sessions and Mana Team support sessions which include effective implementation support, risk assessment, safety plans and transition planning. 

• Te Ara Whakamana planning (senior management)
• Online Mana Whenua hui
• Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement Training 
• Online support sessions for staff

Resources:

• Te Ara Whakamana Implementation Guide
• Training workbooks
• Te Ara Whakamana Manual
• Customised Padlet
• Downloadable digital resources
• Access to the Te Ara Whakamana online shared Community of Practice

Part 2: Embedding the Kaupapa (over 12 months)

Once the culture of Te Ara Whakamana has been introduced, we pay a school visit to experience first hand the visibility and impact of the kaupapa, visiting rooms, talking with teachers and ākonga and meet to feed back / feed forward with staff and senior management. During the school visit, a special whānau training session is held (afternoon or evening), where whānau have the opportunity to experience Te Ara Whakamana first hand. We return later for a 2nd visit and allow a further opportunity for whānau to attend Te Ara Whakamana whānau training. 

• School visit – Implementing change, embedding and sustaining the kaupapa
• Whānau training
• Additional online staff and management support sessions
• Invitation to Te Ara Whakamana annual Hui ā Tau and Mana Camp

Data collection throughout your Te Ara Whakamana journey follows a process of enquiry into ‘why, what and how’ we change what we do in ways that truly support learning and positive outcomes. In this way, analysing the data supports action research, a growth model approach, and transformational change.

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Early childhood education

The use of colour, shapes and imagery present strong cognitive markers for learning. Storytelling provides a safe place from which tamariki/young children can explore dissonance, conflict and challenges. Te Ara Whakamana offers an opportunity for parents, caregivers and whānau/family members to actively acknowledge and uphold the mana of their tamariki/children, identify their strengths, talents, behaviours, likes and dislikes through a positive cultural lens. 
 
To support Professional Learning and Development in Early Childhood centres and Kōhanga Reo, Ako Solutionz has created training packages which include a series of self-directed online modules so Early Childhood teachers and staff can train in Te Ara Whakamana at their own time and pace. 

Ako Solutionz is an accredited provider to the Ministry of Education SELO panel, through which Early Childhood centres and Kōhanga Reo may be able to access funding for training in Te Ara Whakamana. Contact us, or your regional office for more details. 

For more info visit: Te Ara Whakamana in Education – Early Childhood Education

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What our Te Ara Whakmana Practitioners say…

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