Raukura 2007: Kaumatua Leadership
January 14, 2008
This is part of a series of posts using reflections produced by staff and participants at the Raukura: Intro to Strategic Leadership Module held at St Johns College, Auckland, in December 2007.
These reflections have been compiled as a Study Guide, and are available in printed form for below cost at $10.00 a copy including postage and handling (contact us for more details). Alternatively, you can download a PDF version here.
Kaumatua Leadership
By Christopher Douglas-Huriwai - Kaiwhakahaere in Te Waipounamu
“E kore au e ngaro, he kakano ahau i ruia mai i Rangiatea.”
“I will never be lost, for I am a seed planted here from Rangiatea”
When thinking about effective leadership from a Maori perspective it is easy to come up with plenty of scenarios and ideas around this. But the first, I’m sure that pops into many Maori minds are the “pou” (pillars) of many Maori communities: the Kaumatua, or Maori elders.
But how can we model ourselves and those around us on these esteemed leaders of our Marae, Hapu and Whanau? We must first look at the attributes that makes us see these people as effective leaders. The first and foremost taonga that Kaumatua hold is that of knowing who they are and where they come from, as well as a fluent grasp on the reo.
Knowing who you are and where you are from
This is probably the single most important factor when dealing with Maori communities. Knowing who you are and where you come from, because if you don’t know who you are and where you come from how can you possibly lead people if you don’t know yourself.
This is what the whakatauki (proverb) above speaks of, if you know who you are and where you’re from you can never be lost, and that is where kaumatua get their mana from - their firm understanding of who they are that makes them that pou (pillar) for their people.
Modesty
“Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.”
“My strength is not from myself alone, but it is from those who surround me”
Another contributing factor to why I think the Kaumatua style of leadership is relevant and necessary to Maori is the modesty of many of our kaumatua around the motu (country). Modesty is an important part of leadership, as well as the ability to realise the greater good, even if that means they are taking the back seat for a while. Many kaumatua I have seen on my marae in Matapihi, and locally in Christchurch, ooze with enigma and knowledge. However, I have never seen a “mana battle” where it was kaumatua vs. the people. I was once assisting a priest at a tangi (funeral) who is also a local kaumatua and we turned up to the tangi there was already a kaumatua and a minister there from another church. Instead of causing a scene however he instructed me to take my seat and we waited until the service was over, went to the nehu (burial) and while we were there the Kaumatua came up to us and asked if we wanted to do the prayers back at the marae. It is that sort of modesty as well as the modesty of the priest I was assisting to put the people first that would hold any leader in good stead with their people.
All of these attributes of Kaumatua leadership can be found in the Paipera (Bible). Most notably I find it in Peter’s first letter, chapter 5 where it says “I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it – not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be an example and empower the flock.” It goes on to say in verse 5 “All of you must clothe yourselves in humility when dealing with each other, for God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Comments
Got something to say?