KA EKE POUTAMA

Rangatahi into Governance and Leadership

Empowers Māori youth with the skills and confidence to step up into governance and leadership roles

Ma te whakapakari i ngā pūkenga o te tangata, ka eke poutama ai ngā iwi Māori ki ngā taumata tiketike. Tēnei te karanga atu ki a koutou ngā rangatira mo āpōpō. Maranga mai ra!

Ka Eke Poutama 2016 journey

Ka Eke Poutama 2017 journey

Ka Eke Poutama 2018 journey

Thank you for your interest in our Ka Eke Poutama programme!

We are currently confirming dates for the 2025 Ka Eke Poutama programmes.

If you are interested, leave your details at the link below, and our team will be in contact around dates and application details…

What is Ka Eke Poutama?

Our Ka Eke Poutama (KEP) programme is a mission to build up a generation of confident, capable and engaged rangatahi Māori to take on governance positions throughout our community.  

KEP is a practical four month governance programme combining: training, guest speakers, coaching sessions, group activities, community initiatives and real-life board experience. We draw on stories and case studies from Māori organisations and top businesses, weaves in themes of innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership and connects you with experienced governors and business leaders.

Who is it for?

We encourage applications from rangatahi and young leaders who are committed to making a difference to their community, iwi and whānau through effective governance and leadership.

The programme suits:

  • Young, passionate Māori between 20-38 years

  • Who live anywhere in Aotearoa

  • Who are interested in strengthening their understanding of good governance

  • Who can commit to engaging in a part-time, practical programme over 4 months

  • Who want to go on and take on roles in governance, organisational leadership or their own social enterprise.

What are the Ka Eke Poutama programme touch points?

What do we cover in the programme?

We have run governance training programmes 2,000+ Māori leaders across Aotearoa.

Our alumni often comment that our training is a fun and practical experience, full of learning.  
We integrate activities and stories, and there is no need for previous governance experience for you to participate. If you’re interested in the following concepts, then we have the programme for you:

  • Indigenous approaches to governance and enterprise growth.

  • The roles and responsibilities of trustees when holding a governance position.

  • The most common risks that Maori trusts experience and how to manage them.

  • Navigating future trends that will change the world and our communities.

  • How to develop great strategy for a Maori trust or new enterprise.

  • Entrepreneurial principles to accelerate enterprise growth.

  • 10 ways to innovate in a company to keep it ahead of the game.

  • Ways to measure and monitor progress towards your strategy.

  • Operational tools and systems that ensure things get done.

  • How to have effective trustee meetings that focus on the right things.

  • Tricks to improve communication between all people you engage with.

Week by week breakdown of the programme

Completing the course touchpoints usually requires you to set aside 5-8 hours per week. These hours are flexible to fit in with your busy life, except the online Ako sessions every fortnight (usually every second Wednesday at 6pm).

Participants are required to complete 80% of all programme touchpoints to graduate from the programme. This usually means attending all three programme wananga. Most other touchpoints can be completed online and from anywhere.

Frequently asked pātai

    • How leading Māori organisations and businesses achieve success and impact.

    • Essentials of good governance for Māori and community organisations.

    • Ways to innovative and create impact in an organisation.

    • Entrepreneurial principles and tools to create effective strategy, grow a Māori Trust or start your own enterprise.

    • Weaving kaupapa Māori values and tikange with mainstream business concepts.

    • Stories and journeys of influential Māori governance leaders.

    • How to apply the learning to real-life projects and case studies.

    • What tools, templates, and resources to use in different governance contexts.

    • We expect you to commit about 2-5 hours per week towards learning, sessions and projects.

    • The programme runs over 4 months, and is manageable alongside full-time mahi, whānau duties and other responsibilities.

    • There are three weekend wānanga that you must attend (one per month).

    • You can complete most of the other work in your own time.

    • Stronger confidence and mindset - around your ability to contribute to community and governance boards.

    • Stronger strategic thinking skills - around social, business and organisational issues.

    • Deeper understanding of governance concepts - including how these apply in a real life environment.

    • Stronger networks - including with dozens of other like-minded rangatahi, Māori leaders and organisations.

    • Career progression - adding useful skills to your CV (such as risk management, strategy and communications)

    • Most of the programme can be completed in your own time, from wherever you are.

    • The three weekend wānanga will be held in Auckland or Northland and require you to travel to them.

    • Yes, participants often come from all over Aotearoa.

    • As long as you can travel for the wānanga, it doesn’t matter where you live.

    • We are raising funding to support most of the costs.

    • Each participant needs to contribute $1,300 (30% of the total cost).

    • Participants often find a Māori Trust, employer or other funder to sponsor them.

    • Āe mārika!

    • We do not expect you to have any background in governance. If you do it is just a bonus.

    • You do need to have a desire and commitment to learn though.

    • Āe mārika! Absolutely.

    • You will still get heaps out of it - including new tools and concepts that you haven’t come across before. We have trained hundreds of Māori organisation boards.

    • Also, you’ll inherit an incredible network of other like-minded rangatahi leaders.

    • To Māori, age is just a number.

    • We are happy to accommodate those older than 37 (if you are ‘young at heart’).

    • It will be a factor in selecting our cohort though.

    • Ideally not since this creates additional responsibilities on our team.

    • In every cohort there are some who bring kids along though, especially babies.

    • Between the others in your cohort, you can probably organise a group childcare option.

    • We have 50 places per programme.

    • Generally we have 100+ applications, so we have to select our cohort.

    • We do this by ensuring a balance of ages, skill levels, and any particular criteria of the programme funders (e.g. a certain number of participants within a certain age group).

    • We intend to hold several programmes in 2025, so if you are keen, definitely apply!