“I love the dispositional learning, links to Te Whāriki, a tool to understand and have deeper level of conversation with children and ngā whānau about what is amazing about them. Incredible that each and every time we learn something new. Seeing whānau unfold with pride and confidence at the end of our korero. Mana enhancing! Can be used for all children in one way or another.”
ECE Centre Manager

“I love the concept of this entire course! The use of the mana model to deepen relationships with whānau and tamariki will be amazing for our centre.”
ECE Teacher

“[Te Ara Whakamana] connects pūrākau with Ātua and supports children’s sense of belonging, self-belief and resilience. It encourages deeper thinking in pouako (teachers). Conversations are richer between everyone.”
ECE Teacher

“It’s culturally responsive, it’s child-centred, it’s strength-based. All the things we know make a difference especially for Māori and Pasifika learners, but for all learners.” (School 3)

“Student hauora and wellbeing went through the roof in terms of engagement, student achievement levels as well as attendance.” (School 3)

“I think it helps them to realise that being different is a good thing and if we were all the same, life would be boring. It wouldn’t be as fun, and it really does strengthen relationships because it strengthens how well they know themselves; it therefore strengthens their ability to understand others.” (School 2)

“Te Ara Whakamana was the first thing that I saw that we were giving our tamariki the power back saying, ‘This is what I need, and this is what I need you to do to help me.’ So, when everything is put back into perspective for them, they know that there’s a process that will enable them to get back into Rongo.” (School
2)

“I can only speak for myself but when I first implemented it into my classroom, all the tamariki accelerated in their learning. They wanted to be at school so attendance was high as well because they were enjoying it. They were learning about themselves really.” (Teacher, School 1)

“Because our tamariki are majority Māori in our school, the foundational bit is that the tamaiti can make a connection with their identity. So, they see themselves within Te Ara Whakamana and when you make a connection with something you identify with, straight away it can regulate your emotional state because you see yourself in whatever it is.” (School 1)

“I have to say that the training is one of the best, if not the best, PDs I have ever done and I have been a teacher for over 20 years!”
IWS Facilitator, Auckland

“It helped me build strong relationships with my ākonga when they are in a positive space, so that I can help and support them when they are heightened. It is also incredibly helpful to help with transition of students to intermediate.“
Teacher, Wellington

“It teaches me more about myself and my own mana, opens me up to being vulnerable and sharing my own story to help build stronger relationships with ākonga.”
RTLB, Auckland

“Students can start to recognise their own wellbeing and state of mind, they can recognise how others are feeling, can start developing strategies to cope with those states.”
Teacher, Wellington

“It empowers students to take control of their own decisions and choices and to recognise the triggers of behaviour and what to do next.“
RTLB, Auckland

“It is culturally based but I have found it works across any nationality. Teens react very well to using this model I have never had a negative response.”
Secondary School Teacher, Auckland

“[Te Ara Whakamana is] easy to follow and students understand it too. A very effective way to understand and know students better.”
Teacher, Waikato

“It is a great pathway to uplifting the mana and culture of all involved in your Kura. Including whānau, hapū, iwi.“
Teacher, Hawkes Bay

“This is culturally responsive to the needs of our students and whānau.”
Teacher, Wellington

Irongate School, Flaxmere

Irongate School in Flaxmere, Hastings, has been using the Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement model for 5 years, to great success. As part of a wider network, principal, Maurice Rehu, ensures anyone working in their school has been trained in Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement. This includes RTLB, Social Workers, and Public Health Nurses. Irongate School also recognises their connections to Ngāti Kahungunu where whānau, hapū and iwi, are working towards building a community of practice underpinned by the kaupapa of Te Ara Whakamana.

“I 100% see this as something that every school in NZ needs to be doing to get the very best outcomes for all students. It’s culturally responsive, it’s child-centred, it’s strength-based, all the things that we know make a difference, especially for Māori and Pacifika learners, but for all learners.”

Maurice Rehu
Tumuaki / Principal, Irongate School

“It is very easy to use and encompasses the whole of the person and their surroundings”
Counsellor, Gisborne

“Many māori have said this model helps them understand self in an entirely natural way, and when I use with pakeha i believe it helps in understanding some of the beauty of Te Ao Māori, especially for those whom have never had contact with this before.”
Counsellor/ AOD Practitioner, Christchurch

“It looks at the holistic well being of a person and encourages them utilize their available resources. This put a large focus on whānau, connection, growth and development, recognising the impacts of whakapapa and sharing this in a mana enhancing way.“
Social Worker, Hawkes Bay

Jean Tidy, Counsellor, Purapura Whetu Trust

“The more I have used (Te Ara Whakamana) the more my practice with this has developed and recently in my own private practice I have been overwhelmed with the impact it is having with my clients in the counselling context. I work privately with clients who have experienced a lot of trauma. A lot of my work in the beginning is around creating a sense of safety, before exploring the depths of the trauma story. Most recently my work with Te Ara Whakamana has been to identify my clients resources as a reference to the pathway to self care. I am so passionate and excited about using it as a rich therapeutic tool in the counselling context.”

“As soon as the pen hits the paper it’s real. This boy thought he couldn’t control his anger. Even his parents thought nothing could help him. Now he has a tool that really helps him. His whānau relationships have improved too as everyone has a role to play and are part of the solution.“
Laurie Holmes, Youth Worker

“What I love about it is that from a Corrections world view, we are risk adverse and often forget that within each of us there is strength, from adversity comes strength and coping – Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement allows us the opportunity to explore that.”
Alison Fowlie – Department of Corrections Practice Leader, Te Tai Tokerau

“Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement transcends who I am as a Māori into a contemporary framework through the use of metaphor and colour that undoes what Colonisation has done to my people.“
Whaea Hera Pearce, Kaupapa Māori Sexual Violence Practitioner

“Te Ara Whakamana acknowledges the journey many of our whānau take to reclaim their mana – as individuals, as whānau, and as communities. This pathway is rooted in our shared whakapapa, our tikanga, and our aspirations for the future.”
Kaupapa Māori Practitioner

“This kaupapa supports whānau to walk their own pathway, grounded in mana motuhake and mauri ora. It’s about restoring the mana of each person, and the collective strength of the whānau maintains that mana.”
Kaupapa Maori practitioner