Te Kāhui Māori is leading change across Aotearoa New Zealand’s Regional Sports Trust Network, embedding Māori equity and leadership into the heart of the system.

Established in 2022, the cross-RST collective aims to strengthen cultural capability and embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles at every level of the Network.

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• Paving the Way for Healthier Futures
• Leading a cultural shift

Drawing on his systems change expertise, Healthy Families Ōtautahi’s (HFŌ) Brandon Manuel, a founding member of the collective, has helped evolve the focus from cultural capability to elevating Māori outcomes into organisational strategies.

“We’re advocating to ensure all Māori benefit from our work across RSTs,” says Brandon, HFŌ’s Māori Systems Innovator.

“The flow-on effect, if things keep progressing the way they are, would be accountability from Te Tiriti from that Board down to senior leadership to operations within RSTs. Ultimately, that will translate to servicing Māori communities.

“If that’s the trajectory that we’re on now, there will be a shift to servicing more Māori in our communities up and down the country.”

There’s been significant progress. Independent evaluation indicates more Māori are now present at senior leadership and governance levels, a crucial lever for systems change.

Brandon says Te Kāhui Māori intends to sustain momentum by building allies at every level, prioritising support for new Māori leadership and advocating for locking Māori equity into RST strategies so this progress endures.

“If we’re looking at equity for Māori, then it needs to be from a systems lens - policies, practices and resources.

“While progress is evident, sustaining systems change requires ongoing commitment, especially in embedding Māori equity into long-term strategy and resourcing.”

Te Kāhui Māori’s journey reflects a growing commitment across the RSTN to embed equity for Māori as a core organisational imperative. As the collective continues to influence policy, practice and leadership, Brandon’s systems approach signals a shift from intent to accountability. 

While Te Kāhui Māori is dedicated to forging allies and championing strategic outcomes at every level, it’s important to acknowledge the autonomy of each RST. The collective provides support and direction, nurturing a collaborative space where progress toward equity is encouraged.

At the same time, each RST is empowered to determine which changes to make, ensuring these align with their unique values and vision.

Article added: Monday, September 22, 2025