Creating TQ (Tiriti|Treaty Literacy) in Organisational and Workforce Development

“The Haka that Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clark performed in Parliament during the Treaty Principles Bill was not the first haka to be performed in Parliament. So why has haka caused such a breach of protocol at this time, in this context? Why this haka? How can this be: the culture and rules of conduct in Parliament are drawn from a monolingual and monocultural framework” - Dr. Kathie Irwin

This, and other applied examples, of how Te Tiriti o Waitangi helps us future-proof Aotearoatanga nation-building, will be explored during our brand-new workshop, delivered by Dr Kathie Irwin. This workshop aims to help participants grow their TQ and become more Tiriti | Treaty literate.

Having delivered this Tiriti | Treaty organisational and workforce development training to kaimahi in the government, private, and NGO sectors for over three years, Kathie Irwin & Associates are now working alongside Te Pai Ora SSPA to bring this workshop to our Te Pai Ora SSPA members and providers throughout our sector.

Following the initial delivery in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, there will be two other opportunities to attend Kathie’s workshop later in 2025 in Tāmaki Makaurau and Ōtautahi (dates TBC).

#education #tetiriti #organisationaldevelopment #kaupapamāori #workforcedevelopment #tetirohangamāori #culturalintelligence #mātaurangamāori #culturalliteracy

The interactive nature of the workshop will provide an environment to explore the why, what, how, who and where of TQ (Te Tiriti | Treaty Literacy). Participants will work together to explore how to embed Te Tiriti within organisations by building cultural literacy and creating practical change that makes a real difference in organisational and professional practice.

The workshop will:
1. Take a kaupapa Māori approach, focusing on better outcomes of service;
2. Be informed by mātauranga Māori, no culture has a mandate on genius, great strengths-based solutions are designed from Māori knowledge;
3. Integrate Te Tirohanga Māori, the Māori Worldview, into the applied, interactive workshop.

This work has a strong alignment with the vision, mission and values of Te Pai Ora SSPA. We can't wait to get started! And in the words of our facilitator, Dr Kathie Irwin “Rehekō! Lessgo!”

1. To develop TQ, Tiriti | Treaty literacy and intelligence
2. To analyse the significance of lifestyles (access to language and culture) and life-chances (access to power and opportunity) in TQ
3. To explore the role of Te Tiriti | The Treaty of Waitangi in Aotearoatanga, nation building, and in professional practice
4. To examine best practice in organisations which are already on their Treaty Based Organisational Development journey
5. To demonstrate knowledge of the role of cultural literacy in modern workplaces
6. To synthesise principles of how to develop Gold Standard Tiriti | Treaty Praxis for your organisation

The workshop takes an ‘E tipu, e rea,’ dual worldview approach, to the learning and teaching styles it draws from during the day.

Participants will be engaged in both Māori and Western learning/teaching models and techniques. Māori models will include the use of mihimihi, huri rauna, ako, tuakana/teina, pūrakau, mātauranga Māori, and wānanga. Other learning/teaching techniques include facilitation, small group discussion, critical analysis, reflection, and reporting back.

There is a focus on creating empowering learning for all in a context in which humanising the learning and teaching environment. Coming together we come to learn, to grow, and to flourish as an outcome of the workshop experience.

Course Designer and Lead Tutor, Kathie Irwin MNZM, PHD, MInstD

Ko Hikurangi me Moumoukai ngā maunga,

Ko Waiapu me Nuhaka ngā awa,

Ko Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu me Rakaipaaka ngā iwi,

Ko Putaanga me Tāne-Nui-A-Rangi ngā marae,

Nō ngā mōtu ō Orkney, Kōtirana me Airani hoki ōku whakapapa.

Ko Kathie Irwin ahau.

I am a third-generation Māori educationist, a devoted mother and besotted nannie. Public service and social justice are deeply embedded in my bloodlines. My passion inspires me to contribute to nation building, in innovative and creative ways, which are framed by Sir Apirana Ngata's whakatauāki (proverb) "E tipu, e rea". This proverb speaks to the possibilities of Treaty based models of change that create authentic transformation.

As a Māori, feminist, academic I specialized in Māori education, research, and development, for nearly thirty years. I have worked as an academic at Massey (1981 – 1988) and Victoria Universities (1988 – 2001), Christchurch College of Education (2001), the Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust (2002 – 2005), and Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi (2005 – 2008).

My second career has been in senior management and governance, across the NGO, Iwi, and public sectors. I have worked at TPK, the Families Commission, the Human Rights Commission, Barnardo NZ, ACC, the Office of the Children’s Commission and Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission. I have held governance roles as Ministerial Nominations from the 1980’s. I served as Ministerial nomination on Council of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (2013 – 2017). From Dec 2022 to June 2023, I was a member, then Co-Chair of Toi Mai, WDC, and, a Trustee of Te Matarau a Maui, Wellington Regional Economic Development.

I founded Kathie Irwin & Associates on June 15, 2020, and am the CEO and Chief Scientist.