GRADUANDS’ SPEECH
Moana Tamaariki-Pohe, Matthew Gan, Afoa Tevita Malolo
on behalf of the Class of 2019, The NZ Leadership Programme
I tuia ai mātou i te maia, i te wairua, i te atawhai mē te mana, kia hāngaia i te korowai aroha // Together we have woven bravery, spirit, kindness, and empowerment to make a cloak that is love
2019 has been an amazing journey of collective and personal growth and transformation in life and leadership. We emerge at the end better equipped to lead and serve our workplaces, communities and world.
We came together as 36 individuals from all walks of life to learn about leadership and quickly discovered that this was not your typical programme. Where were the Powerpoint presentations with tight models and strategies outlining the clear steps of how to be a better leader? This was not classroom learning.
This was a unique life experience that took us on a voyage of eight retreats across New Zealand to better understand our environment, each other and ourselves. It was a privilege to spend time in Auckland, Waitangi, Kaikohe, Christchurch, Flock Hill, Raglan, Wellington and Waiheke as we met leaders from many spheres that challenged our individual worldviews. Each retreat was wonderfully orchestrated to heighten emotions, expand thinking, stretch perceptions and to dance in chaos.
Through it all we wrestled with the question of what it means to be a daring leader. There is no textbook answer to this question. Through our journey we came to appreciate that daring leadership is about embracing vulnerability and courage in taking risks to help drive the change we hope to see in the world.
We saw this in the way our country responded to the Christchurch terrorist attacks. This tragedy transpired during our second retreat while we were experiencing the warm hospitality of the Kohewhata Marae in Kaikohe. It sent a sharp jolt of shock through our group and brought an urgent dose of reality to the courageous conversations we were starting to have about race as part of our wider discussions on diversity and inclusion. These were only heightened by the sobering opportunity to visit the Al Noor Mosque as part of our third retreat in Christchurch.
We continued to noho and talanoa (sit with and dialogue) openly throughout our year about what it means to be a daring leader in this space – encompassing the tough topics of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, privilege, and unconscious bias, amongst others. The layers and complexities of our kōrero encouraged by leaders, such as Barry Brailsford and Pat Snedden, challenged us a group in what were uncomfortable conversations. This paved the way to a broader awareness and understanding of the value in difference.
Leaders within our own group have championed messages of love and understanding that have continued to dare us to lead with authenticity, courage and resilience.
Our voyage this year took us to some places of inspirational natural beauty including Kura Tāwhiti (Castle Hill), Whaingaroa (Raglan) and Waiheke. We were encouraged to reconnect with our physical environment – something that some of us had lost. These were special times of contemplation and healing for our souls – somewhat poignant as we also paused to consider the negative impact we have on the natural beauty we sometimes take for granted.
We remembered the paths that had led us to this point. Our connection to those that have come before us, those that walk with us now and those that will come after us. We were reminded that we matter and that who we are matters. By allowing ourselves connectedness, we strengthened our own sense of place, space and purpose.
Our journey together has been a shared experience and a deeply personal one as well. We were challenged in many ways to answer the question: Who are you? We explored the values that drove us as individuals. We dove deep to shut out our inner self critics and discover our essential selves. We were vulnerable and opened ourselves up in sharing our stories and our lives with each other.
What allowed this to take place? It was the safe and sacred space (le va) that grew over our time together allowing deep connection. We were gentle and kind with each other. We supported and encouraged each other. We were respectful to each other.
Our year together has been a powerful and moving reminder of the power of human connection. That a diverse group of people – in many ways a microcosm of Aotearoa – can be thrown together, and by taking the courage to be open and vulnerable with each other, we now see each other in a new light. We see the humanness. We feel the vulnerability. We appreciate the beauty.
As our journey together draws to a close, the question emerges for each of us: What will you now do with your dash?
Each of us is running our own race. The ‘dash’ between the moment we are born and the moment we take our last breath. That little dash is ours to spend: to sit back in our comfort zones or to take daring leaps into the unknown, to accept things the way they are or to help forge a new way in hope, to show apathy or to display love.
This is our wero:
Let us challenge ourselves to harness our combined experiences of our Leadership NZ journey to actively lead and serve our whanau, our homes, our workplaces and our communities. Let us reach deep into ourselves and create the space for others to share their stories so that we can see each other in a new light. Let us be brave and dare to have courageous conversations in our spheres of influence in the same way we have this year. And above all, let us lead, teach, manaaki (support) and whakamana (empower) from a place of aroha (love).
O le ala o le pule o le tautua. The pathway to leadership is through service
Thank you to Leadership NZ for forging its special brand of leadership for the past 15 years through this Programme. Special thanks to Louise Marra for taking us to new places and expanding our worldview and to Petrina Togi-Sa’ena for smoothing our journey this year. We are humbled to become part of the wonderful tapestry that is Leadership NZ.
Are you a mid-career, senior executive or community leader in New Zealand who cares for the future of our nation? Do you know someone who is?
Applications for our 2022 NZ Leadership Programme are OPEN NOW: https://www.leadershipnz.co.nz/programme/applications-faqs