New self-directed e-learning Te Kawenata Tapu on Tiriti-based practice

Heather Came & Associates are pleased to announce Te Kawenata Tapu (The Sacred Covenant), our new self-directed e-learning course on Tiriti-based practice is now open for subscribers. This peer-reviewed course was co-designed by Dr Heather Came and Grant Berghan and consists of eight modules – one on colonisation and decolonisation, one on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the remaining six focused on the five elements of the Māori text. Subscribers receive six months' access to the complete course, or they may choose to subscribe to individual modules. The total course will take approximately 24 hours  to complete. 

This course, decades in its conceptualisation, has been intentionally designed to offer genuine professional value and build long-term capability in Te Tiriti-based practice. The self-directed format ensures that learners can engage with the material at their own pace, allowing for deeper personal reflection if desired, or making it straightforward to integrate into a busy schedule without the pressure of a rigid timetable.

Heather said “It has been a labour of love pulling this together over the summer with Grant. It has been about developing a course that we ourselves would want to undertake. We have worked carefully to achieve a balance between academic and creative content, leaving room for learners to reflect and explore what these ideas might mean for Tangata Tiriti practice. I think it is a unique contribution to Te Tiriti education”.

Embracing and implementing the ideas within Te Kawenata Tapu will require an enduring commitment to working honourably, respectfully, and effectively alongside Māori. Rather than focusing solely on abstract concepts, the modules translate these core commitments into practical, daily workplace and everyday habits and decision-making processes. Learners will navigate realistic, context-specific scenarios and clear frameworks that demonstrate how to apply these understandings directly to contemporary projects, policy development, and everyday interactions. This approach ensures that cultural safety becomes an active, practical skill rather than passive knowledge.

Grant said “This is a significant contribution to Te Tiriti o Waitangi education in Aotearoa. The programme synthesizes thousands of hours of valuable information and knowledge into eight learning modules. These modules will greatly enhance your understanding of Te Tiriti and its role as a founding document of this nation.”

Ultimately, embedding Tiriti-based practice is becoming an integral part of many organisation's identity and strengthens the overall quality and integrity of their work. By fostering a shared understanding, the course helps build collective confidence across teams, ensuring a consistent and respectful approach to engagement. The material is presented in concise, accessible segments tailored for busy professionals. 

Dr Vincent O’Malley (FRSNZ) – HistoryWorks Limited said “Drawing on multiple perspectives shared through a range of valuable texts, multi-media resources and links, the course is an invaluable one for anyone seeking to understand Te Tiriti today and what it means for them and their communities”. 

Dr Clive Aspin – (Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Whanaunga and Ngāti Tamaterā) said "What an amazing repository of wisdom, learnings and inspirational teachings. Congratulations, team for gathering this rich tapestry of information about Te Tiriti o Waitangi and making it available to the world. The material in Te Kawenata Tapu is designed for learners at all stages of their Tiriti journey. Once you have completed this course, you'll become a powerful agent of change to help create a Tiriti-based future for Aotearoa. This course is truly transformational and provides deep knowledge and understandings about the roles and responsibilities we all have in building a fair and just society based on Te Tiriti."

Dr Amanda B Lees (Auckland University of Technology) said “Beautifully designed modules blend readings, art, and facilitator kōrero to invite reflection and deeper engagement. The attention to navigational support and the use of evocative, nature-based imagery contribute to an accessible, respectful learning space that supports Te Tiriti- based practice as something lived and relational”.

More information and a short promotional video are available on the HC & A website, where you can also subscribe via a sliding scale. Email joyaratima@gmail.com if you want to negotiate a bulk organisational rate, or attend a walkthrough. Note scholarships are also available.