The Toa Leadership Seminars are a joint collaboration with Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and Te Pūkenga. Presenters, not limited to Ngāti Toa, are selected to deliver a 40-minute presentation on their work or area of interest. The seminars are interactive and designed to encourage:
dialogue and conversation
disseminate information and obtain feedback
develop presentation skills
promote collaboration
profile important work.
The audio from the sessions is recorded and made available to all below.
Toa Leadership Seminars
Helena Abolins-Thompson
Māori Leadership in cancer and cardiovascular disease research
Helena Abolins-Thompson (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāi Tahu) is a PhD student and scientist that is helping to change the landscape in cancer research for Māori. Helena was recently awarded with a scholarship from the Cancer Society at the inaugural Māori Early Career Development in Cancer Research Awards, and will be heading to Harvard University to continue her research later this year.
Helmut Karewa Modlik
Helmut is the Tumu Whakarae (CEO) of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira. He is an experienced director, executive and consultant with specialist skills in implementation and change management, business and economic development (including new venture identification, planning and establishment), strategic analysis and planning, public policy and finance. Helmut has extensive consulting experience in a wide range of private and public sectors (particularly health) including appointment to the boards of PHARMAC, Capital & Coast District Health Board, Health Information Standards Organisation and Health Information Strategy Action Committee.
Leadership: from Good to Great
Dr Selwyn Kātene
Iwi/Māori Leadership: What makes for a good leader?
Selwyn Katene (Ngāti Toa, Ngā Ruahine, Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Tuwharetoa) was Professor of Māori and Indigenous Leadership and Director of the Global Centre of Indigenous Leadership at Massey University. Prior to that he was the university’s Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Māori & Pasifika, and Director of its MANU AO Leadership Academy. He has been a senior manager at the Mental Health Commission, Ministry of Health, Public Health Commission and in the pharmaceutical industry. His governance experience includes TRoTR, and Capital and Coast DHB. The author of eight books, his research interests include Māori and Mormon leadership. Selwyn received his doctorate from Massey University, and two masters degrees from Victoria University. He is married to Rahui (nee Hippolite) with five tamariki and eleven mokopuna.
Te Rā Moriarty
Exemplifying leadership in the classroom through Māori values
Te Rā Moriarty is a descendant of Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Koata, Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu. He is an assistant lecturer in Te Pūtahi a Toi, the School of Māori Knowledge, at Massey University. His main areas of teaching are te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and te ao Māori. Currently, he is completing a doctorate focusing on karakia practitioners in the modern world.
Jeanette Grace
How to Grow Leaders – a borrowed phrase
Jeanette Grace (Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Ngāti Koata) is the Dean of Te Wānanga Māori at Whitireia Polytechnic in Porirua. She also sits on the Academic Board of the newly formed Te Pūkenga. She has a background in mental health and addictions as well as indigenous training and education.
Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal
Leadership in Tangata Whenua Communities Today
Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal is an independent researcher and consultant, and a freelance composer, musician and storyteller. He is passionate about the ‘creative potential’ of indigenous knowledge and communities which he explores through research, teaching and advising, and through music and story. Charles has written/edited six books and ten reports on aspects of mātauranga Māori and iwi histories and traditions. He is also the founder and leader of whare tapere – iwi based ‘houses’ of storytelling, dance, games, music and other entertainments – which takes place in Hauraki. Previously he was a Director at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, Director of Graduate Studies and Research at Te Wānanga-o-Raukawa, Ōtaki, and Professor of Indigenous Development and Director, Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, University of Auckland. Charles belongs to Marutūahu, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngā Puhi.
Te Puoho Kātene
Te Pūoho (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Tama) is driven by three fundamental, interconnected kaupapa: Impact, Indigenous, and Investment. A graduate of Stanford Business School and Fulbright Scholar and an Obama Foundation Leader: Asia-Pacific, Te Pūoho brings a global outlook on leveraging global best practice within an indigenous, values-based lens.
Tikanga Based Leadership
Peter Kelly
Leadership for Today - A perspective from an old soldier and Chief Executive
Peter Kelly (Ngāti Toa) is the Chief Executive Upper Hutt City Council. He is a former Chief of Army and Commander of NZSAS, and in 2019 received The New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to the New Zealand Defence Force.