Tūpuna Parenting is a movement to decolonise our parenting

Ngākau Aroha for Kaimahi is about growing more leaders in this movement. 

If you support whānau Māori, this journey is for you.

Our tūpuna didn’t smack or yell at their tamariki -
yet many whānau today don’t know that. 

We want to change that. But how?
We need more voices. More leaders.

Ngākau Aroha for Kaimahi is about growing those leaders, the ones who will carry this kaupapa forward.

Ngākau Aroha Parenting for Kaimahi is a 20-week learning journey made up of two courses — Theory and Practical.

Across the 20 weeks, you’ll take part in 7 live Zoom wānanga and engage in 13 weeks of independent online learning, with videos, resources, and reflective activities to complete at your own pace.


Throughout the journey, you’ll explore mātauranga grounded in the tapu and mana of pēpi, and gain practical tools, language and strategies you can use in your everyday mahi.

Why learn this kaupapa?

Reclaiming our whakapapa

Our tūpuna were gentle and respectful parents and whānau, before the colonials imposed their parenting on Māori

Breaking
stereotypes

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

Inspiring
change

Helping whānau finding inspiring stories from their whakapapa, or sharing our tūpuna stories can empower them to parent differently.

What you'll get from this course

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Real impact. Real outcomes. 

In August 2025, we published our Social Return on Investment (SROI) evaluation reporting a return of $11.20 for every $1 invested in Ngākau Aroha. Overall, the report highlights the effectiveness of our kaupapa and delivery, and the benefits experienced by kaimahi, their own whānau and the whānau they support. 

Testimonials from our graduates

Davida Simpson
(Poutini Ngāi Tahu)
Kaiwhakahaere of Te Hono O Ngā Waka
"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."
Roana Archbold
(Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
Tē Puawaitanga Ki Ōtautahi Trust
"What I have enjoyed most about participating in the Ngākau Aroha learning is that our people have a beautiful and inspiring whakapapa of traditional indigenous parenting that is whānau centered, gentle, and loving. What a wonderful and sacred pepeha that our people can learn, lean on, and apply to our parenting today. Gifting our tamariki and mokopuna with aroha, resilience, cultural connection, and pride."
Cindy Te Rehu-Tuki
(Te Arawa and Ngati Maniapoto)
Manaaki Ora
"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."

Join the journey

These are all our confirmed professional development cohorts.
Later cohorts will be announced when their dates are finalised.
We offer two ways to experience our professional development journey. 
  • Our standard option runs entirely online over 20 weeks through a mix of Zoom hui and guided learning modules. 
  • Once a year, we also offer a special 15-week mixed-delivery cohort that includes a 2-day ā-kanohi wānanga in the middle of the journey
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January 2026 - Online

This 20-week journey has the following live Zoom wānanga:

Theory:
  • Thu 29th Jan, 9-11am
  • Thu 26th Feb, 9-11am
  • Thu 2nd Apr, 9-11am

Practical:
  • Thu 23rd Apr, 9-11am
  • Thu 14th May, 9-11am
  • Thu 4th Jun, 9-11am
  • Thu 25th Jun, 9-11am

March 2026 - Mixed Delivery

This 15-week journey includes a mandatory 2-day ā-kānohi wānanga in Motueka near Nelson. Attendance is required to graduate.

Wānanga dates are:
  • Zoom - Wed 11th Mar, 9-11am
  • In-person - Wed 6th & Thu 7th May - Te Āwhina Marae, Motueka
  • Zoom - Wed 24th Jun, 9-11am

Ngākau Aroha Graduates
– Stay Connected!


Ngākau Aroha graduates are invited to our ongoing monthly zoom wānanga, Waipuna-ā-Rangi.
This is a space to refresh, re-energise, and deepen your connection to the kaupapa.

These wānanga are offered at no cost as part of our commitment to supporting you in carrying this mātauranga forward.

Keep an eye on your emails for the next invite!
If your email has changed, let us know at kiaora@tupunaparenting.maori.nz