Tū Māia Programme
Tū Māia is a Māori-focused cultural capability training programme for staff of Oranga Tamariki.
Tū Māia, is co-delivered by the Wānanga collective, Te Tau Ihu o Ngā Wānanga and forms part of the wider Oranga Tamariki Te Hāpai Ō strategy designed to improve outcomes for tamariki and their whānau.
It was established by Tā Harawira (Wira) Gardiner during his time as Secretary for Children and Oranga Tamariki chief executive. Tā Gardiner was a founder and council member of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanūiarangi.
The three wānanga involved in the delivery of the programme are, Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
Hundreds of employees from the ministry have now completed Tū Māia, with Oranga Tamariki confirming it was discussing further learning opportunities with the wānanga collective.
Tū Māia is an intensive course made up of three seven-week blocks. It focuses on a range of topics including knowledge systems, systemic racism and colonial history.
Staff attend noho wānanga, complete online classes and engage in self-reflective exercises.