Screenshot of Ngākau Aroha grad wānanga
Ngākau Aroha for Kaimahi

Professional Development

Our tūpuna didn’t smack or yell at their tamariki—yet many whānau today don’t know that. We want to change that!

Ngākau Aroha Parenting is about growing more voices and leaders in the Tūpuna Parenting movement, ensuring this mātauranga is shared widely with whānau today.

Ngākau Aroha for Kaimahi is about creating more leaders in the Tūpuna Parenting movement.

Nan cuddling moko

We will share tūpuna parenting mātauranga in-depth, grounded in the tapu and mana of pēpi, and give you strategies and tools to use and share this as part of your daily work.

You will be able to inspire and empower whānau to be gentle, respectful and loving parents and whānau, just like our tūpuna were.

You will add tools to your kete of skills to support whānau, and be able to reframe your clinical and Western kōrero to be more Māori, complementing the training and experience you already have.

black and white image Nan kids and dogs are beach

Together we can

Reclaim our whakapapa​
Our tūpuna were gentle and respectful parents and whānau, before the colonials imposed their parenting on Māori.

Break stereotypes
Once Were Warriors was not how we parented. We were great warriors, but those warriors were raised gently.

Inspire change
Inspiring and empowering whānau that you support, as well as building your own cultural competency to support whānau Māori.

What you'll get from this course

Gain an understanding of tapu and mana
Learn Tūpuna Parenting mātauranga
Develop connections within your whānau
Relate tūpuna parenting to modern whānau
Practice introducing this kaupapa to whānau
Familiarise with the cards, videos, and resources
Ngākau Aroha for Kaimahi

Learning Journey Structure

This professional development journey is delivered entirely online, blending live wānanga with self-paced learning.

To complete the full learning journey, you will participate in two 10‑week courses:

  • Theory Course: Deepen your understanding of the mātauranga underpinning Tūpuna Parenting.
  • Practical Course: Gain the skills to apply this knowledge effectively to your mahi with whānau
Wānanga

The time commitment is approximately 1–2 hours per week over 20 weeks. Completion of both courses is essential to fully integrate this mātauranga into your mahi.

Our journey can also be customised if you would like a dedicated cohort for your organisation or collective.

Kōrero mai if you’d like to find out more!

We've been independently evaluated

In June 2024, we received our first independent evaluation highlighting the quality of our programme, the benefits it gives the kaimahi who attend the journey, and for the whānau they support.

Te Wai 24

Eligibility and Cost

Our cohorts are open to all—Māori mai, Pasifika mai, Pākehā mai, tauiwi mai.

If you work with whānau Māori in your daily mahi, we welcome you to join this journey.

Nau mai, haere mai.

The course fee for the complete learning journey is $2,995 (including GST) per person.


Testimonials

"I would recommend the Ngākau Aroha Parenting course to anyone who works with Māori whānau and wants to make a positive difference in their lives.

This course will give you the confidence and skills to introduce the tūpuna parenting ways to whānau and empower them to parent differently. You will also learn a lot about yourself and your own parenting journey."

Davida Simpson
Davida Simpson
Te Hono O Ngā Waka
Kati Waewae

"I found that completing Ngakau Aroha has added to my kete of mātauranga that enables me to utilise the knowledge within my mahi and my personal life.

I would encourage others to participate, because this Kaupapa can be shared, implemented, flexible and develops understanding from a Maori perspective, while enhancing the Mana of Maori whanau and yourself."

Cindy Te Rehu-Tuki
Cindy Te Rehu-Tuki
Kaiāwhina, Whānau Āwhina Plunket
Te Arawa, Ngāti Maniapoto

"Ngākau Aroha prioritises matauranga Māori and has made space for me to explore how I can translate our pūrākau and tikanga into phrases and ideas that will inspire whānau to try something new.
I highly recommend this journey as the kaupapa is inherently Māori and the space which is facilitated is safe and nurturing."

Emma Rolleston
Emma Rolleston
Ngāi Te Rangi
Ngākau Aroha for Kaimahi logo

Join the journey

Our next Ngākau Aroha for Kaimahi cohorts start in May 2025. Click the button below to head to our enrolment page!

Not the right timing? Join our waitlist and be the first to know when new cohorts open.

Related information

Tūpuna Foundations Wānanga

Are you interested in attending a short wānanga instead? We have graduates of our professional journey across the motu who can support you.

Ako tonu

Kōrero mai

If this learning journey isn’t quite right for your mahi or organisation, just let us know. Do you need a 1-day wānanga? A 1hr presentation? We can help.

Ako tonu