Meet the team
Ko mātou ēnei
From a young boy, Te Whatanui has been exposed to influential people that have guided him through depths of understanding that few adults have comprehended yet alone experienced themselves.
As the eldest child of 8 children, Te Whatanui learnt the true meaning of Manaakitanga through his selflessness to care for and support the growth of others, particularly his younger siblings.
Takohatanga was expressed through the parts of himself that he shared for the benefit of those who were fortunate enough to receive from him and enjoy the fruits of his labours and unwavering giving nature, even at the young age he was at the time.
As a product of the Kōhanga movement and a past ākonga of Te Kura ā-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano, his childhood included consistent exposures to his marae, iwi, hapū, waka, mahi toi, tikanga, te reo, mātāpono and the remaining strands that when combined make up Te Ao Māori in its entirety. During these schooling years, a period of time was spent living with his koroua and kuia. This time with his kaumātua saw Te Whatanui learn the true essence of Rangatiratanga and how effective leadership within Te Ao Māori is a necessary and significant means of transforming the lives of his people for the betterment of current and future generations.
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By the year 2013 Te Whatanui was on his journey to completing his Masters exploring pakihi Māori and greater depths of knowledge pertaining to tikanga and Te Reo through Te Panekiretanga, which combined, has been transformed into a Māori pakihi that has been existing within his lifelong visions and aspirations now existing within Te Ao Mārama and his everyday reality.
Spending over 5 years in Hamilton contributing to Māori educational institutions, ranging from standing as a Te Reo Māori lecturer of Wintec to acquiring a position as an Education Review Officer that assessed the learning environments of tamariki mā and later on adolescents and adults.
As a past student of Te Wānanga o Raukawa and later lecturer both here and at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Te Whatanui developed insightful organisational knowledge regarding the functioning of Māori educational institutions and their systems, mātāpono, behaviours and correct conduct according to tikanga.
These positions, particularly within ERO enabled Te Whatanui to ascertain what quality spaces are and factors that supported knowledge acquisition and positive futures for all. It was during this stage of his journey where he learnt the purposes and beneficial uses to innovative expressions founded within Te ao Māori and remaining consistent with Whanokētanga and promoting positive and innovative outcomes for others to benefit from.
Holding the courage to dream big and live in ways that manifested dreams into his life of reality, saw a refusal to succumb to an array of pressures and vulnerabilities. This Māiatanga resulted in the creation of his envisioned company that would serve as a ripple of hope persistently growing in mass and momentum to become a wave of positive change and transformation.
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