The resurgence of indigenous systems throughout Waitaha has seen many organisations looking to incorporate a Kaupapa Māori lens to their mahi in order to better service the Māori community.

The Selwyn Sports Trust is one such organisation that is looking to make changes to the way they work to better reach the Māori community in Selwyn.

With the help of Healthy Families Systems Innovator, Lawrence Tau, the Selwyn Sports Trust have co-designed a new Māori Lead role, named the Tākaro Activator.

The conversation and beginning development of this role was instigated by the Selwyn Sports Trust’s former Chief Executive, Jimmy Sinclair, who has recently moved on.

Lawrence’s input in the beginning of this process was supporting Jimmy to get the right people in the room. The purpose of this was to engage multiple parties from the Māori community in fleshing out, co designing and looking at outcomes for this role alongside the Selwyn Sports Trust and Sport Canterbury/ Healthy Families Ōtautahi.

This piece of work aligns with Selwyn Sports Trust’s and Sport Canterbury’s commitment to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi by applying a true bicultural approach to mahi.

“This kaupapa highlights different organisations coming together in line with the treaty to develop this new position,” says Tau.

“It also showcases a pakeha organisation doing things in a different way,” he adds.

As of early August, the Tākaro Activator postion has been filled and the Selwyn Sports Trust are beginning to roll out the opportunity to work alongside them to several schools in their community.

There is also potential for the Tākaro Activator  to work alongside the youth residents in Selwyn to deliver activation sessions, however this will be looked at more in the coming months.

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Article added: Monday 01 August 2022