Māori Leadership Summit 2026

Pre-Conference Workshop | 11th March

09:00 Māori Leadership Journey

• This one-day interactive workshop invites Māori leaders and aspiring changemakers to embark on a transformative journey of growth and empowerment, guided by the enduring wisdom of Māori philosophies, values, and practices combined with modern day leadership concepts.
• A space for safe self-reflection, where participants can connect with their cultural identity, embrace the essence of tino rangatiratanga, and identify the limitless potential within whānau, hapū, and iwi contexts.
• Through thoughtful and interactive dialogue, this program empowers participants to explore the profound connection between self-awareness, behavioural patterns, and the quality of relationships that define effective leadership. By embracing these insights, attendees will learn to navigate the challenges of leadership with greater vision, shaping decisions that honour both their cultural heritage and the aspirations of those they serve.
• Above all, this workshop aspires to nurture cultural confidence and inspire participants to lead authentically from a place of humility and higher consciousness. By drawing strength from their heritage and fostering collective growth, participants will not only transform their own leadership journeys but realise the foundation for empowering the next generation of leaders.

Conference Day 1 | 12th March

9:45 AM: Opening Remarks and Introduction from Emcee

Welcome address and framing of the summit theme: He Ara Hou – Forging New Pathways for Māori Leadership.

SESSION 1: OPENING KEYNOTE FIRESIDE CHAT 10:05 AM: Te Mana o te Mōhio Ko Wai Koe – The Power in Knowing Who You Are

For Tame Iti, identity is more than just whakapapa—it is a living, breathing force that shapes how we move through the world. In this compelling session, Tame explores mōhio ko wai koe—the deep understanding of who you are—and how this knowledge fuels leadership, activism, and creative expression. Through the lens of his artistic journey, he will share how his work challenges narratives, reclaims spaces, and serves as a vehicle for Māori sovereignty. From galleries to political forums, Tame operates in worlds that often collide, yet he remains steadfast in his tūrangawaewae. Join him for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of art, identity, and mana motuhake, and discover how knowing yourself can empower you to lead with confidence, purpose, and authenticity.

10:35 AM: Networking & Morning Tea

SESSION 2:  KEYNOTE ADDRESS 11:00 AM: Doing Business with Māori: An Organisational Leadership Perspective

In this keynote, Lloyd will explore what it truly means to do business with Māori from an organisational leadership perspective. He will discuss how leaders can build meaningful, respectful, and sustainable relationships with Māori communities and stakeholders, moving beyond transactional interactions toward partnerships founded on trust, respect, values and mutual understanding.
Drawing on his experiences as a Māori professional and leader, Lloyd will share insights into the cultural values, protocols, and expectations that support successful engagement. He will emphasise the importance of cultural awareness, empathy, and active listening, demonstrating how these qualities can influence organisational strategies, decision-making, and long-term outcomes.
Delegates will leave with practical guidance on embedding Māori perspectives into organisational operations, leadership practices, and governance structures. By fostering cultural intelligence, leaders can not only enhance business outcomes but also create stronger, more inclusive workplaces that genuinely reflect and respect Aotearoa’s diverse communities.

SESSION 3: KEYNOTE ADDRESS

11:50 AM: Representation Matters – Elevating Māori Voices in Leadership

Exploring how increasing Māori representation in governance, business, and community leadership creates stronger, more inclusive futures.

12:50 PM: LUNCH

SESSION 4: CASE STUDY 1:50 PM: Practical Tools for Embedding Māori Values in Leadership

Interactive session where participants explore frameworks, tools, and strategies for incorporating Māori values into everyday leadership practice

SESSION 5: CASE STUDY PRESENTATION 2:35 PM: Pathways to Representation

A practical case study from an organisation that has successfully created pathways for Māori to thrive in leadership roles.

3:20 PM: AFTERNOON TEA

SESSION 6 3:40 PM: Te Ara Hauora Māori. Partnering for Healthier Futures

Nick will share how a member-owned, not-for-profit organisation is working with iwi and Māori leaders to reshape health access and outcomes. Under his leadership, Southern Cross has co-designed initiatives such as the Waikato-Tainui kaumātua health scheme, which reduces affordability barriers for older Māori, and has invested in workforce and hospital practices that embed Te Ao Māori into care. Programmes like Pause Breathe Smile extend wellbeing tools to tamariki across kura, while the Healthy Futures research continues to inform culturally responsive benefit design. 1Anchored in Te Pae Mahutonga, Nick will illustrate how products, people, partnerships and policy can be aligned with Te Tiriti to support Māori leadership and create healthier futures together.

SESSION 7: CLOSING KEYNOTE OF DAY 1 4:20 PM:  The Power of Truth: Storytelling that Shapes a Nation

Mihingarangi Forbes is one of New Zealand’s most respected journalists and storytellers, known for her fearless pursuit of truth and her deep commitment to Māori voices and perspectives. With a career spanning major television and radio platforms, she has championed stories that challenge, enlighten, and inspire. In this session, Mihingarangi shares how journalism can be a force for accountability and transformation, and why authentic storytelling remains vital to Aotearoa’s future. Her reflections offer powerful lessons on courage, integrity, and the responsibility of leadership through media.

5:20 PM: END OF DAY ONE & NETWORKING DRINKS

Conference Day 2 | 13th March

09:00 Opening Remarks and Introduction from Emcee

SESSION 1: EXCLUSIVE KEYNOTE SESSION 9:10 AM: Dame Farah Palmer: Leading Across Worlds

Dame Farah Palmer is one of Aotearoa’s most respected leaders, moving with mana through the public, private and academic worlds. As former captain of the Black Ferns and the first woman to sit on the New Zealand Rugby Board, she has broken barriers while championing Māori and women’s voices. Away from the spotlight, she draws strength from her whānau and tikanga, showing how leadership is sustained by deep cultural roots. As an academic at Massey University, her research and teaching continue to shape the future of sport, identity and Māori development. Her session will explore how values, whakapapa and resilience can guide us to lead with purpose across every part of life.

SESSION 2: FIRESIDE CHAT 10:00 AM: Partnerships that Work

A candid discussion with leaders who have built successful Māori–corporate or Māori–government partnerships that balance cultural values with practical outcomes.

SESSION 3 11:20 AM: Harnessing Cultural Understanding for Inclusivity and Cohesion

Nancy draws on her whakapapa with Ngāti Mākirangi, Ngāti Pāoa and Ngāti Hine and her rich background in both science and mātauranga Māori to lead this session. She will share her journey transforming indigenous knowledge into collaborative partnerships, Nancy will illuminate how organisations can move beyond diversity check-boxes and build inclusive environments where cultural understanding drives cohesion, collaboration and team strength. Delegates will walk away with actionable strategies for celebrating difference, cultivating unity and embedding cultural intelligence into everyday leadership and operations.

SESSION 4: WORKSHOP 12:10 PM: Mentoring and Succession in Practice

An interactive session on practical approaches for developing Māori leadership pipelines, with emphasis on mentorship and intergenerational knowledge sharing.

1:10 PM: LUNCH

SESSION 5 2:10 PM: Bridging Worlds, Powering Futures

Kruger brings two decades of experience in government, finance and governance to his role as Pouhere Māori at Genesis Energy, where he works to weave te ao Māori and te ao Pākehā into a shared vision for Aotearoa. In this session, Kruger will reflect on his journey as a bridge builder, from representing the Kingitanga during treaty settlement negotiations to shaping corporate strategy and leading iwi partnerships in the energy sector.

He will share his insights on how tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi provide the foundations for sustainable, inclusive leadership, and how Māori values can guide industries like energy to create collective economic, social and environmental value. His kōrero will encourage participants to think about leadership as both visionary and practical, and how building trust between worlds is essential for a thriving future.

SESSION 6 3:00 PM: The Power of Quiet Influence

Paul describes himself as a “non-theoretician leader operating in the fire” and in this key session he will explore the idea that leadership does not always have to be loud to be effective, and that quiet influence can shift culture, build trust, and create meaningful change. Drawing on his own experience working at the intersection of industry, community, and tikanga Māori, Paul will share how he has learned to lead by listening first, by holding firm to values under pressure, and by showing consistency in moments of challenge. This kōrero will encourage participants to reflect on the different forms leadership can take, and how subtle, steady action can be just as transformative as bold declarations.

SESSION 7: CLOSING KEYNOTE OF THE SUMMIT 4:00 PM: Justice Through a Māori Lens: Lessons from Te Kāhui

In this important session, Denis will share his reflections on Te Kāhui’s commitment to addressing the overrepresentation of Māori in the prison system, exploring how this focus is deeply embedded in the organisation’s tikanga, values and internal culture. He will discuss how these foundations influence Te Kāhui’s external approach, shaping the way it engages with communities, institutions, and decisionmakers to drive systemic change. As a new Commissioner, Denis will offer insights into how he has experienced and learned from this tikanga-based way of working, and how it has expanded his understanding of justice, equity, and the importance of indigenous-led leadership in reshaping outcomes for Māori.

4:00 PM: CLOSE OF CONFERENCE

Post-conference Workshop | 14th March