On November 25, 2023, at Rātā marae, Lead Researcher Dr. Amohia Boulton and Senior Researcher Utiku Potaka provided an in-depth update on the Rapua te ara Rangatira study to Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hauiti. The session concluded with the official launch ofthe first publication from the study, Rapua te Ara Rangatira, Kia Hikitia Ai Te Oranga: Interim Findings.
The book launch commenced with an opening mihi by Adrian Wagner, the Ngāti Upokoiri Rūnanga delegate, who acknowledged the tangible book and the wealth of mātauranga encapsulated within. Barbara Thomason, the Ngāti Hinemanu delegate, followed the brief mihi with a karanga, recognising the book as a taonga.
The Interim Findings publication provides a concise summary of the insights gathered from our study’s key informants regarding their views of leadership from an iwi perspective. Over the past year, the Rapua team conducted 22 interviews and held 2 wānanga with trustees, rūnanga delegates, and leaders from Ngāti Hauiti, Mōkai Pātea-nui-tonu, and Te Ranga Tupua. Six key high-level themes emerged as a result of these interviews. These themes include Leadership Motivation; Personal Attributes of Successful Leaders; Underpinning Values and Principles; Enduring Leadership; Strengthening Māori Governors; and Decision-making Through Consensus.
The publication incorporates whakataukī, whakatauākī, and evocative imagery corresponding to the six themes to convey key insights offered by our study participants, many of whom were the Rūnanga delegates themselves.
The book is adorned with contemporary kōwhaiwhai, designed by Maihi Potaka (Ngāti Hauiti, Te Ātihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Manawa). Both female and male Huia are depicted, highlighting their distinctions through the ngutu (beak) of each Huia. The unique tangi of the Huia is also captured in the form of koru.
The use of imagery depicting the Huia, a bird once prevalent in Ngāti Hauiti's rohe in the Ruahine Ranges, reflects the cultural significance of this taonga to the people of Ngāti Hauiti and indeed Mōkai Pātea-nui-tonu. The Huia, regarded as spiritual guardians, traditionally symbolised rangatiratanga and mana motuhake. Tūpuna often adorned themselves with Huia tail feathers on their heads and the ngutu or beaks of the bird were commonly crafted into brooches.
The themes outlined in the publication will form the basis of a leadership and decision-making model currently under development by the Rapua team. The model will be presented to the Rūnanga at a subsequent meeting in February 2024.
At the launch, Rūnanga delegates expressed their gratitude for the publication, their excitement for the new model of governance and their interest in the team’s work connecting the concepts of rangatiratanga and leadership to the prized, yet now extinct, Huia. The Ngāti Ruaanga delegate, Thomas Curtis, shared many insights regarding the Huia noting for example that “the twelve tail feathers of the Huia represent the twelve steps to rangatiratanga". As we, the research team have come to learn, there are many aspects about the Huia, its characteristics and its habits which we can draw into our bespoke model of iwi governance, to be unveiled in the new year. The opportunity to delve deeply into Ngāti Hauiti mātauranga surrounding the Huia has been an unexpected delight for us as researchers.
The recent presentation also served as an opportunity for the Rapua team to provide progress updates to the rūnanga, including:
· Addition of team member Luke Enoka in early 2023;
· Successful completion of the summer studentship;
· Recognition of HealthResearch Council NZ and Ngā Pae Mātauranga Scholarships awarded to Stacey Ruru for her PhD research on wāhine leadership.
If you would like a copy of the Interim Findings booklet please get in touch at admin@whakauae.co.nz
