Participants reflect on the words and lessons that resounded with them from each of our sessions.
“My kete going in to our second retreat felt light. With the long bus trip and marae-style sleeping arrangements for the next few days, I knew this was going to be intense.”
EVILE FAKALAGO reflects on the Vā Fonua Fenua Enua retreat for Tū Mau Mana Moana 2023.
“The first retreat was overwhelming and challenging. It stirred me to ask myself: Who am I? And what do I stand for?”
SO’O LEATIGAGA shares his reflections on Vā Tupuna, the first retreat of Tū Mau Mana Moana for 2023.
"I left this retreat feeling much more aware of the ways I need to engage with others to create belonging and acceptance while maintaining integrity in myself as a person of the moana." JAMES MOSE reflects on Vā Fonua, the sixth retreat of Tū Mau Mana Moana 2022.
“Nourishment is always what we gain from the retreat, but this felt very different: more than kainga but a connection back to the work we all do.” DARLENE RASTRICK reflects following her fifth retreat with Tū Mau Mana Moana.
”The entirety of this leadership development programme has started to probe deeper than any other training I have attended into the differences between modern Western leadership and indigenous Māori and Pacific leadership, and the increasing relevance of Māori and Pacific models of leadership.”
DESMOND TUPANGAIA reflects following the Vā Hala retreat on his Tū Mau Mana Moana journey.
“I feel like I am being gifted the knowledge, the understanding, and the language to describe what I believe, how I feel and who I want to be.”
KEAWE WOODMORE reflects on the third retreat of Tū Mau Mana Moana 2022.
”The word CONFIDENT comes to mind when I think of my Vā Tagata journey… During the retreat, I saw the words appear in my vision when I listened to the speakers and conversations and it started to sink into my mind and heart.”
ANITA EDWARDS reflects following the Vā Tagata retreat on her Tū Mau Mana Moana journey.
“’ve never regretted choosing to be vulnerable and authentic with other participants in the programme. I’ve had the courage to speak up and share things that have concerned me or were quite tricky to navigate. Rather than facing condemnation, the participants aligned their head, heart and gut exhaling manaakitanga while I inhale aroha.”
Dr ANGELYNNE ENOKA speaks to her experience of being a participant on the Tū Mau Mana Moana programme.
“Retreat One helped me to see my culture through a new lens; a better lens. I didn’t think I could or would connect with a group of strangers so quickly, but the spirit or connection was strong and powerful.”
VAIULA ROBERTS reflects on the first retreat of Tū Mau Mana Moana.
“We are being given stories from our own history that talk about the potential in all of us, to thrive despite the challenges we face. We have permission to get to know ourselves in our most honest form. “
KATHLEEN MASOE reflects on wayfinding leadership and what that means to her, following Vā Moana, the third Tū Mau Mana Moana retreat for 2023.