Project Update
Over the past year, Whakauae Research has partnered with the National Hauora Coalition (NHC) to deliver a co-developed systems change programme grounded in Kaupapa Māori methodologies and guided by NHC systems champions. The programme was designed to strengthen organisational capability in systems-change thinking while supporting NHC to embed systems approaches across everyday practice and decision-making.
Facilitated by Tom Johnson and Dr Tanya Allport from Whakauae, the project combined wānanga, training, reflective evaluation, and strategic systems mentoring to support the development of a shared systems change language and practice for NHC.
What we achieved together
Shared competency in systems change thinking
A key achievement of the programme was the delivery of the NHC Systems Change Workshop Series, a four-part learning journey that introduced participants to both mainstream and Indigenous systems thinking approaches. Key kaimahi developed foundational knowledge and practical tools to recognise, analyse, and respond to complex systems challenges.
Participants explored systems concepts through reflective exercises, collaborative discussions, and practical applications linked directly to their roles and organisational priorities. The inclusion of the Te Ruru systems change framework, developed from Ngāti Hauiti knowledge and Whakauae Research experience, provided a culturally grounded approach to understanding systems change through a Māori lens.
Community of systems change practice
A significant outcome of the project has been the establishment of a community of systems change practice. This emerging network of kaimahi shares a commitment to systems change as a pathway for achieving greater impact within NHC and across the wider systems in which the organisation operates.
The community has been supported through regular engagement opportunities that encourage participants to:
This collective learning environment has strengthened relationships across teams and contributed to the sustainability of systems-change capability beyond the life of the project.
The learning journey
Throughout the programme, reflective processes have captured the evolving understanding and experiences of participants. This documentation provides a record of NHC's systems change journey and traces the development of capability from initial awareness and exploration through to application and integration.
Insights gathered through workshops, mentoring sessions, and reflective activities contribute to a growing evidence base that highlights both the opportunities and challenges associated with embedding systems-change approaches in a Māori health context.
Looking ahead
As the programme concludes, NHC is well positioned to continue to build on the foundations established over the past 12 months. The combination of a shared systems-change language, strengthened capability, an active community of practice, and the integration of Indigenous frameworks such as Te Ruru has created a strong platform for ongoing organisational learning and transformation.
The project demonstrates the value of combining Kaupapa Māori methodologies, knowledge systems, and collaborative learning approaches to support meaningful and sustainable systems change within the Māori health sector.
