Tangata Tiriti -Treaty People have been delivering workshops in Whaingaroa for over 10 years. Led by Dr Ingrid Huygens, this relationship was first initiated by Lisa Thomson and the Raglan Community Board. Since 2019 the Tangata Tiriti workshops in Whaingaroa have been supported by the Raglan Naturally Community Trust.
For many, the knowledge shared in these workshops has been a source of major ‘aha’ moments about Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Previous workshop participants talk about how they learnt about “the history of Māori before Pākehā arrived – the thriving economy and people”, and how “This needs to be taught in our schools. I will personally continue to advocate for change and acknowledgement of the past”. For others, the overall approach stood out, “I have attended a few Te Tiriti workshops, and this one was a fresh approach”.
The Te Tiriti community workshops have also grown the capacity of the wider community to more fully engage in Te Tiriti-related activations such as the Treaty Principles Bill submission writing and the Save our Māori Wards campaign.
Having local Tangata Tiriti workshop facilitators has always been the long-term goal for Whaingaroa. In October 2025 this goal was achieved.
Driving the achievement of this goal was the-then Raglan Naturally coordinator Gabrielle Parson, alongside the Toitū Whaingaroa team. They knew there were passionate people in the Whaingaroa community who would make great Te Tiriti workshop facilitators. However, they also knew that stepping into that facilitation role could be daunting, especially on top of already busy work and family lives. A staged process where confidence was gradually nurtured was needed.
An initial introductory community kōrero was held in February 2025. This was open to anyone interested in being part of a local group focused on activating Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Whaingaroa, whatever that might look like. There were 15 people who attended this introductory kōrero.
From the introductory kōrero, 11 people from Whaingaroa signed up for the Tangata Tiriti facilitator training. Jointly delivered by a team from Tangata Tiriti and Toitū Whaingaroa, the training was held over two weekends in April and May 2025. Seven trainee facilitators from Mahi Mihinare, Anglican Action Kirikiriroa also joined our training.
For trainee Jess Thornley, the training was a perfect opportunity to return her roots.
“I had been living and working overseas for nearly fifteen years. When I came home to Whaingaroa with my two daughters in 2018 I knew it was important to refresh my understanding and renew my commitment to Te Tiriti, and to reconnect with my roots in a meaningful way. My grandad, known as ‘Digger’ was the Doctor in Raglan back in the day. As Tangata Tiriti Pākehā he formed a special relationship with mana whenua, that really embodied the spirit of partnership as set out in Te Tiriti. I wanted to honour that and do my bit. Becoming a facilitator felt like something I could do, some real action I could take”.
The goal was more than simply training individual workshop facilitators. It was important to nurture a supportive group who would grow together. The staged process where trainees learnt to deliver evidence-based education processes and activities was central to building this collective confidence. The success of this approach was evident during the training when some realised that not only were they capable of being Te Tiriti facilitators, it was actually fun!
Trainees came to see that, “You didn’t have to be an expert. Being a co-leader is powerful. The activities have been expertly designed and refined. Trust them”. Mentorship and feedback was also central to the training process.
Of those who completed the Te Tiriti facilitator training, eight have gone on to form the core ‘Whaingaroa Te Tiriti Activation Group’. Including a wide range of backgrounds, skills, and life experiences, the core group is Whaea Ruhi Haru, Whaea Pania Meredith, Gabrielle Parson, Jess Thornley, Alicia Sunnex, Annie Gordon, Holly Dove, and Helen Ritchie.
After completing the facilitator training, the group began an intensive process of preparing for the delivery of their own workshop. Mentored by experienced Tangata Tiriti – Treaty People facilitators and the Toitū Whaingaroa team, the Whaingaroa Te Tiriti Activation Group very successfully delivered their first Te Tiriti o Waitangi community workshop on October 18th 2025. Feedback from that workshop included, “the way the workshop is delivered with the activities is a great way to learn. I left feeling very empowered and educated”. The success of the facilitation team in, “hosting us so graciously and facilitating such a complex topic with aroha and care” was also highlighted.
The collective approach to workshop delivery taken by the Whaingaroa Te Tiriti Activation Group means there is a supportive group approach to learning, knowledge and skill sharing, problem solving and ongoing reflective practice. With group members taking responsibility for leading out specific workshop activities, both facilitators and workshop participants are exposed to a diverse range of presentation approaches and styles.
As one activation group member says, “knowing our Te Tiriti history feels critically important, for the future of our community and our country”. The Whaingaroa Te Tiriti Activation Group are well on their way to supporting the Whaingaroa community to grow and embed understandings of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in positive, inclusive and proactive ways across our community.
Don’t miss out on the next community workshop on Saturday March 28th. See the poster for more details.
If your organisation/group is interesting in hosting a workshop please contact Gabrielle on gabrielleparsonraglan@gmail.com / 021 844 785 for more information.
by Michelle Levy – Toitu Whaingaroa
