KOE KOE Ā
The first intake of Kaupapa Tupuranga (from left to right): Tokoahu Wilkie-Te Rahui, Cumorah-Lee Aiolupotea, Reann Hippolite-Elkington, Kapohau Matiu-Wharepapa, Virginia Kalani-Aiolupotea, Tuakana Tuira, Kaleb Hawea, Una Stephens, Hōani Tākao.
Kaupapa Tupuranga
Tupuranga – 1. (noun) growth, a place to grow
Hōani Tākao, Mātanga Whānau Mahi, talent acquisition coordinator for Wakatū, has been working on Kaupapa Tupuranga, a new horticultural programme, since mid-2019. It is part of an overall strategy to increase the number of Wakatū whānau working at all levels of the organisation. Kaupapa Tupuranga has been designed to connect, grow and develop Wakatū whānau on the whenua, by working and learning in a horticultural and agricultural business, through a tikanga and te ao Māori lens, and in a safe and whānau-friendly working environment. As well as undertaking standard horticultural tasks, whānau on the Tupuranga programme are supported to build individual development plans, including goal setting and strength finding. The pilot scheme began in 2019 with a small group based at Kono Horticulture in Motueka. There are plans to extend the programme in 2020. Anyone with a whakapapa connection to Wakatū who is interested in developing their horticultural skills in a tikanga Māori environment can contact Hōani Tākao to find out more: Hoani.Takao@wakatu.org. Tokoahu Wilkie-Te Rahui and Cumorah-Lee Aiolupotea are two members of this pilot scheme and they share their experiences of being part of Kaupapa Tupuranga.
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