Kāhui Ako and Clusters Leaders Network – Positionality, Partnership, and Praxis

The workshop ‘Positionality, Partnership and Praxis’ by Holly Bodman was interactive to allow kaiako to apply ideas to their own lives and practice. 

Holly led with a whakawhanaungatanga activity about the places we feel connected to on an invisible map of the world with Aotearoa at the centre. 

“The places we feel connected to tell a story about our identity”, says Holly. 

She prompted everyone in the room to consider our shared identity as kaiako and our commitment to honour te Tiriti included in Our Code, Our Standards (OCOS). 

“You have to change. It’s a process of change to go through. This is extremely important. We have to be different kaiako. You have to come out of your comfort zone. It is a challenging space and you have to commit,” says one leader.

“We [Puketeraki Kāhui Ako] have made sure that mātauranga Māori and our relationship with mana whenua is strengthened in our achievement challenges. Mana whenua work with us closely. The language acquisition plan is really important to our community and our principals want to know how to implement this in their kura,” says one leader.

“My experience in this COP [community of practice], especially with Puketeraki Kāhui Ako, is that they have all stepped into this zone. For most of the groups in the room, any time they’re given the opportunity to connect with this, they are fully into it. They’re all on a te reo Māori and tikanga Māori journey,” one facilitator said.

Holly invited everyone to reflect on their positionality and consider the next steps on their journey to honour te Tiriti. 

“What do you already know or don’t know about positionality?”, Holly asked. 

Dr Arama Rata observes that “in Māori contexts, positioning is not only common, it’s expected” and shared via pepeha. [Source: Rata, A. et al., ‘Ko Wai Tēnei e Tū Ake Nei? Activating collectively and Accountability Through Grounded Positioning’. Counterfutures 12, p.58.]

"For tauiwi Pākehā", says Holly, "defining positionality is perhaps less clear as it's not a cultural expectation and there's not a structure for it".

According to Andi Crawford and Fiona Langridge, “‘Positionality’ is an internal and external process that involves consciousness of biases, perspectives, values, privileges, beliefs, superiority and identities". (Crawford & Langridge, 2022, Pākehā/Palagi positionality: disentangling power and paralysis PDF 261KB) [sic]

Holly then presented some terms of reference: tangata whenua, tauiwi Pākehā, tauiwi of colour, and kaiako, prompting leaders to think about what these mean to them. 

“What is the difference between tangata tiriti and tauiwi or Pākehā?” asked a leader. 

Opening the discussion Holly says, “Our positionality changes as we learn and experience different things.” 

“Being English, cultural identity is not even a thing. We don’t even talk about it,” shared another leader. 

“I grew up subscribing to the myth that Pākehā don’t have a culture. According to Social Identity Theory, this is because Pākehā is the dominant culture, the default and therefore becomes invisible if you’re in that group,” says Holly.

“Not thinking I have a culture is exactly what I experienced growing up in New Zealand. I recommend reading Leave Your Big Boots at the Door: Pākehā confronting racism against Māori by Lorraine McLeod,” says one facilitator. 

Holly shared definitions of the terms of reference from her extensive reading over 10 years about culturally responsive pedagogy and implementing strategies into her teaching practice. 

“Instead of looking outwards at different theories about culturally responsible practices, I needed to look inward to understand how my identity influenced my practice… I had a lightbulb moment reading This Pākehā Life An Unsettled Memoir by Alison Jones.”

Holly had another lightbulb moment after watching Inheriting Privilege - Land of the Long White Cloud | RNZ. In this episode, Jen Margaret, treaty and social change facilitator, shared her family history. 

“Being Pākehā is a conflicted identity. Wanting it to be a different history from what it actually is… I grew up on this land without knowing the history of these lands,”  Jen says in the video. 

If you haven’t done a deep dive into the Ngāi Tahu Deeds yet, Holly encourages everyone to do this. 

The Ngai Tahu Deeds: A Window on New Zealand History

“When Holly was talking about understanding the historical wrongs that are here, it made me think differently. It is a process you go through. You have to do a lot of thinking and changing as a kaiako,” says one leader.

Positionality might not be something that we have had facilitated conversations about yet in Kāhui Ako. 

“For this Kāhui Ako facilitation team, positionality is something we consider when we co-design,” says Suzi Gould, Grow Waitaha facilitator.

“It’s a process, it’s a journey and it takes time,” says Deirdre McCracken, Grow Waitaha facilitator.

Holly facilitated an activity where leaders understood their positionality to the lands they felt connected to using her positionality framework for teachers. One leader used the metaphor of Taranaki maunga to compare to positionality; there’s a secondary cone but it can’t be seen from all places around the maunga. 

“This will be brand new for a lot of people. Kōia te Mātauraka are partners in this work and we will be continuing this in the Kāhui Ako & Clusters Leaders Network in 2025. It is not an option to not continue this work,” says Dr. Cheryl Doig, Grow Waitaha facilitator. 

Leaders of Kāhui Ako can understand their positionality using Holly’s positionality action framework. Email Holly to request a copy of the framework at holly.bodman@ngaitahu.iwi.nz. 

Holly also shared the key elements of historical privilege from Conceptualising historical privilege: the flip side of historical trauma, a brief examination. This is another powerful resource for leaders looking at the impact of colonisation on Māori and leading professional learning in their Kāhui Ako.

Read some of the actions leaders will take following these activities:

• I will feedback to Tumuaki and the action plan integration.
• I will use the positionality framework with staff when they’re developing units
• I will implement some of the ideas that have been shared and connect with the resources provided
• I will use this with whānau - we are taking them on our bicultural journey
• I will be investigating my cultural identity (or maybe lack of!)
• I will plan for racism training - and positional training.
• I will continue to collect voice from ākonga Māori and whānau to reflect on whether the resourcing and PLD we are putting into kaiako are making a difference and what actions we need to take. 
• I will delve deeper into my history so I can understand and address my bias. Once I’ve done this, look at opportunities to do this with others.
• Examining privilege and bias activity/positional visual is very important to look at with our staff.

He Whakaaraara is a call to listen to the stories of those who struggle to achieve equitable outcomes in the world of education. 

The Kāhui Ako and Cluster groups were invited to read pages 38–42 of the He Whakaaraara annual report to engage with what whānau are saying. 

While reading, leaders were asked to reflect on how they are continuing to ‘hold the line’ and grow cultural responsiveness in their communities. 

“The call to action is with our new achievement challenge, teaching mana whenua history…it’s in there for the next 3 years and it can’t be taken away as it’s our strategic goal,” says one leader.

“The focus is ensuring our teachers are culturally responsive and recognise their bias. Schools need to engage with their beliefs and understand their positionality,” says one leader.

“A big one for kaiako is understanding co-construction comes at the beginning of an idea not during the planning,” says one leader.

“We have to acknowledge the different whakapapa in the room,” says one leader.

“I will discuss [He Whakaaraara - a call to action] with the rest of the team and how to implement it in our kāhui,” says a leader.

“I will discuss He Whakaaraara with senior leadership in my kura,” says another. 

Download the annual report: He Whakaaraara A call to Action

Across Grow Waitaha we are committed to continually evaluating our work to ensure we support Kāhui Ako leaders with educational transformation. We invite leaders to evaluate the hui of Kāhui Ako. Listen to what leaders say.

“The network is a really important place to get new skills and the content is always amazing, so many amazing speakers that you don’t get, by yourself. Grow Waitaha has so many connections and they bring together a really good programme,” says one leader.

“I have found being included in this Kāhui Ako space to be a really positive experience. I have enjoyed feeling part of a larger ‘thing’,” says one leader.

“Sometimes we feel like we’re not making much progress but then we reflect here and realise we have done quite a lot. It is an affirmation as well as learning,” says another leader. 

“These hui have been great for creating connections with other ASLs and have some collaborative thinking. They are invaluable,” says another leader.

“There are some great resources and connections made. Lots have made me think about my own practice and the wider cluster process,” says a leader. 

“Understanding facilitation has become important learning from the Kāhui Ako Network and working with Suzi Gould; our facilitator rock,” says a leader. “You stop, you create a little bit of time and space in your day…It challenges you to think differently.”

This Pākehā Life: An Unsettled Memoir by Alison Jones 

Creating change through civics education

Becoming an ally: Decolonising a New Zealand classroom 

Introducing Aunty Ally – Kōia te Mātauraka 

Holly Bodman – Kōia te Mātauraka 

Pākehā/Palangi positionality: disentangling power and paralysis

The Ngai Tahu Deeds: A Window on New Zealand History

Conceptualising historical privilege: the flip side of historical trauma, a brief examination  

He Whakaaraara A call to Action 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) - The Cultural Iceberg - West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc. 

Aotearoa National Kāhui Ako Gathering - Grow Waitaha

Canterbury Kāhui Ako Leadership Network – Pathway to success | Grow Waitaha  

Puketeraki Kāhui Ako Collaboration in action 

Puketeraki Kāhui Ako Establishment and Leadership  

Puketeraki Kāhui Ako Culturally responsive practice  

Puketeraki Kāhui Ako The strength of collaboration