The creative community plays a major role in connecting people to ideas, products and services that shape who we are as a people and a nation. To reflect an authentic Aotearoa we need to naturally weave into our craft the stories, values and perspectives at the heart of Māori culture.

This workshop helps those who are making their first brave steps into te ao Māori to deepen their connection to Māori culture, values and perspectives to create informed, culturally inspired and authentic work.

The workshop will be a mix of inspiring kōrero and practical application workshops. Please bring some food to share for a shared lunch.

Te Orokohanga o te Ao | The Creation
The creation narrative reveals a Māori concept of the unity of our environment and the people that descend from it and informs a cultural model for creating anything; from a speech to a wharenui.

Te Pōwhiri
The pōwhiri is a process of welcoming and uniting people that encapsulates many principles of Māori culture and can be drawn upon as a model of relationship building in any setting. Learn how to be “pōwhiri ready” and apply this in meetings at work or other settings.

Te Whānau | The Family
Māori view kinship relationships differently to the Euro-centric model that reveals key insights into how to better represent Māori relationships and dynamics in your creative work.

Matariki & Rarohenga | Life after death
Like the creation narrative, the transition of life into the other realms of existence is a major feature of Māori cultural perspectives and shape many aspects of life.

Ngā Kete O Te Wānanga | The source of all knowledge
Māori organise all knowledge in three distinct categories. Learn how knowledge was gained by Tane from other worlds and how this knowledge is used to shape and benefit people today.

Nō Hawaiiki | From Hawaiiki to Aotearoa
Māori came from the Pacific over many generations, revealing their expert scientific knowledge and understanding of the environment. Learn how these migration narratives continue to inspire and inform how to accomplish amazing journeys, innovations and united action in today’s society.

Ngā Tāngata Rongonui | Mythic Māori
There are many fascinating stories of people, both mythic and modern, who reveal Māori values, perspectives and narratives to be inspired by. They reveal the unique attitudes of Māori and lessons that shape our past, present and future as a society.

Ngā Tikanga | Protocols & Correct Behaviour
While the topic of tikanga cannot be fully explored in one workshop, this will give you a good context for the role of tikanga and how to be aware and responsive, even if you aren’t 100% sure all the time what the tikanga is.

Ngā Mātāpono Māori | Māori Principles
There are a few principles that can help you better understand te ao Māori, such as Rangatiratanga, Kaitiakitanga, Mana, Tapu and others. We will introduce these concepts to you and how they round out your understanding of te ao Māori.

Te Ao Turoa | The modern māori world
How do we take these principles and lessons into our modern design practise and daily walk as people that have a role to play in how we shape Aotearoa?

This workshop is presented by Johnson Mckay, the Kaiwhakahaere Matua of Fly, a strategic and creative agency that specialises in helping Aotearoa thrive through authentic, creative work that inspires and connects us all to this whenua and to each other.

Contact the host of Wellington DA Workshop: Welcome to Te Ao Māori for Designers