Unique Tiriti and racial justice development opportunity for people leaders

Tiriti and racial justice journeys are different for tangata whenua, tangata Tiriti – Tauiwi, tangata Tiriti – Pākehā and tangata Tiriti – Moana. Freire has taught us there are different roles and different responsibilities for the descendants of the colonisers and the descendants of the colonised. Lived experiences of living in a racialised world shape how we respond or don’t to Tiriti and racial injustice. This is why at Heather Came and Associates we engage in co-facilitation and regularly do caucused work so we can yarn and critically reflect within our peer groups and then come back together.

Our annual premium training event – our Antiracism People Leaders Wānanga – is next scheduled for 16^th-18^th January 2026 at the beautiful Waihōanga River Lodge and Retreat at Ōtaki, north of Wellington. It is the perfect way to ease into and reboot your professional focus for the Gregorian New Year.

Once you have been to Te Tiriti o Waitangi 101 workshop a few times and have been to a session on dealing with your racist uncle the next professional development moves as a people leader can be a little foggy for tangata Tiriti. If you are a nerd there are lots of books from the global north discussing how to affect change, there are inspirational Ted Talks, and many local Māori-led campaigns looking for allies and people power. The work is endless and challenging, and it is easy to become a scatter-gun rather than playing to your strengths and engaging in a long-game to take strategic action within your sphere of influence.

Our People Leaders wānanga is co-created with those that attend. We develop the curriculum in situ listening to the needs and aspirations of the rōpū during the intentional whanaungatanga processes. Wiremu and I come to the wānanga with a multiplicity of content ideas, and significant experiences in facilitation, teaching and group work. We co-create a learning environment that allows for robust conversation, critical reflection, laughter and plotting and scheming. 

We create a whānau atmosphere, by literally bring our whānau, we devise an epic culinary experience and make the most of being in a beautiful environment by the Ōtaki river. A highlight of the programme is often the Saturday afternoon elders panel where we get to hear stories, ask questions that lapses into feasting and pampering as we practice reciprocity and collective care. Often there are Lego vision sculptures, crafting, swimming for the brave, and there is always an abundance of chocolate.

In 2025 Jane Wade joined us at the People Leaders wānanga and shared this reflection:

Coming into the People Leaders Retreat as a Pākehā leading change in my workplace, and being Tangata Tiriti O Waitangi, I was looking for connection with like minds. The stand outs for me were the beauty of Te Taiao in our space at Otaki Forks, the aroha that had gone into the recipes and the preparation of the kai, the opportunity to build whakawhanaungatanga with people with  common interests, the generosity of Wiremu and Heather in sharing their mātauranga, the Elders Panel - another whole story in itself, the joy of having tamariki and rangatahi energy woven through the weekend, the Saturday evening pamper session, and the seamless whānau work that made this all possible.  From this weekend I made ongoing connections to support my mahi and found further direction for my personal journey as he Tangata Tiriti O Waitangi.  

Here is the unedited video some of the alumni put together after the 2025 wānanga to share their reflections on being part of the wānanga.

If you are a people leader or a change maker in this space, we would love for you to join us for the 2026 edition of our wānanga. Scan the QR code below to register. We have a sliding scale so offer different rates for those working for corporates and those self-funding. 

For 2026 we are pleased to be offering a scholarship for someone to attend our wānanga. If you are interested email joyaratima@gmail.com – with up to 500 words of your background and why you are keen to attend the wānanga.