Cultural Competency Development Programme
Embedding Te Ao Māori in Our Community
Toi Māori is a cornerstone of Aotearoa’s identity and wellbeing. Ngā Toi Creative Hawke’s Bay is pleased to offer this programme strengthening cultural competency across our community, enabling meaningful engagement with Māori values, language, and artistic practices.
A thriving Toi Māori sector enriches our region socially and economically. Cultural competency supports equitable partnerships, authentic storytelling, Māori leadership, and practice grounded in respect and reciprocity.
Who Should Attend
This programme is for individuals, artists, creatives, and community organisations who want to build their cultural confidence and engage more meaningfully with te ao Māori in their work and community.
What’s Involved
The programme includes four half-day in-person workshops and four one-hour online sessions, running across four consecutive weeks in May 2026. You can attend either or both. To get the most from the in-person workshops, we recommend attending all four.
Meet Your Facilitator
Heather Te Au-Skipworth brings deep expertise in Ngā Toi and cultural leadership, guiding government and creative professionals to embed kaupapa Māori values into their work with authenticity, respect, and confidence.
In-Person Workshops
All in-person workshops run on Mondays, 10.00am to 2.00pm at Blank Canvas, 41 Station Street, Napier. Shared kai is provided. Parking reimbursement is available if needed. If you’re travelling from outside Napier and need transport support, please get in touch to discuss.
1 | Understanding the Landscape
Monday 4 May
Explore the meaning of cultural competency within your context, identify barriers and opportunities in the creative sector, and build a shared understanding of te ao Māori perspectives.
2 | The Pōwhiri Process and its Relevance
Monday 11 May
Learn the components and meaning of the pōwhiri process, understand tikanga, kawa, and cultural protocols, and build confidence in culturally appropriate practice.
3 | Public Speaking and Social Media Content Creation
Monday 18 May
Build confidence in public speaking grounded in te ao Māori values, develop authentic storytelling approaches, and learn how to create culturally respectful social media content that uplifts Māori narratives.
4 | Reflection, Integration and Action
Monday 25 May
Reflect on key learnings and personal growth, share insights with the group, and commit to practical actions that embed cultural competency into your work.
Online Workshop Series
The online sessions run 7.00pm to 8.00pm every Monday in May, via Zoom. These are free to attend. Register to receive your Zoom link.
1 | Cultural Competency in Practice
Monday 4 May
Key principles and practical application in everyday work.
2 | Applying Tikanga and Pōwhiri Principles
Monday 11 May
Real-world scenarios and guidance on engagement dos and don’ts.
3 | Digital Storytelling and Social Media
Monday 18 May
Creating content with integrity and tools for marketing Toi Māori authentically.
4 | Sustaining Change and Accountability
Monday 25 May
Embedding learning into systems, measuring impact, and maintaining momentum.
Investment
In-person workshops: $30 GST incl. per person per workshop, or $100 GST incl. for all four. Attend one, some, or all four.
Online workshops: free.
What You’ll Take Away
Increased cultural competency, stronger iwi partnerships, greater confidence in Māori creative leadership, and practical tools for sustainable, sector-wide change.
At a Glance
In-person workshops: Mondays 4, 11, 18 and 25 May 2026 | 10.00am to 2.00pm at Blank Canvas, 41 Station Street, Napier
Online workshops: Mondays 4, 11, 18 and 25 May 2026 | 7.00pm to 8.00pm on Zoom
Secure Your Place
Join us for this four-week journey and build the cultural confidence to engage meaningfully with te ao Māori in your work and community.
Register via Humanitix: In-person workshops | Online workshops
If you have any pātai (questions), feel free to contact us at hello@ngatoihawkesbay.co.nz