Māori women's perspectives of leadership and wellbeing
This article reports the perspectives of five Māori women leaders and relates them to five whakataukī.
Read the article online – By Stacey Ruru, Maree Roche and Waikaremoana Waitoki
Central to the success and wellbeing of these Māori women leaders were:
- staying close to whānau
- mentoring the next generation
- receiving tautoko from others.
The themes in the interviews with these leaders included humility, collectiveness, courage, future orientations and positivity.
The researchers relate these themes through five whakataukī:
Kāore te kūmara e kōrero mō tōna reka
The kūmara does not speak of its sweetness.
Ēhara tāku toa i te takitini, he toa takitahi
My success would not be bestowed onto me alone, as it was not individual success but success of a collective.
Pātua i te taniwha o te whakamā
Don’t let shyness overcome you.
Piki kau ake te whakāro pai, hauhake tōnu iho
When a good thought springs up, it is harvested, a good idea should be used immediately.
He ōranga ngākau, he pikinga waiora
Positive feelings in your heart will enhance your sense of self-worth.
These whakataukī describe qualities and behaviours such as:
- hūmarie, or humility
- connecting to others to build individual and group mana
- standing up for what you believe in
- acting on new ideas to develop a pathway for future generations
- maintaining emotional, spiritual and family waiora.
Reference
Ruru, S. Roche, M. Waitoki, W. (2017). Māori women’s perspectives of leadership and wellbeing. Journal of Indigenous Wellbeing: Te Mauri – Pimatisiwin, Vol 2:1
