Want to lose that awkward feeling in Māori spaces and swap it for quiet confidence?
We're here to help you do it with education and aroha.
Who is puawaananga for?
We are for individuals, teams or organisations who want to gain confidence and competence in te ao Māori. Our practical, engaging, tailored workshops will give you the education, experiences, discussion opportunities and confidence to engage more effectively with the Māori world.
delivering Cultural Competency that leaves a lasting impact
Puawaananga founder Donna Barlow-Rolleston works with groups to deliver foundational understanding around Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Tikanga Māori and Te Reo Māori using the concept of Ako (reciprocal learning).
Of Ngāti Maniapoto and Irish descent, Donna is passionate about normalising Te Reo Māori and Whakaaro Māori (Māori viewpoints) and sharing practical ways to embed new learnings, in order to promote better understanding and relationships. Her strong interpersonal skills, work in immersion settings and bicultural whānau life, means she walks comfortably in both worlds. Donna is able to provide a positive, safe and supportive environment for learners.
Our Offerings
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Join us for an action packed workshop to explore historical and contemporary issues around Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Tikanga 101
This one day workshop unpacks some key mātāpono/ values in the Māori world that guide behaviour and provide the rationale behind customary practises.
Te Reo Māori
Our one day workshop will help build confidence and competence, using second language pedagogy, to support your learning - all in a safe, supportive space.
The local iwi landscape
We dive into publicly available iwi kōrero and websites to learn more about mana whenua - those that hold possession of and occupy tribal lands, and the responsibility of that.
Noho Marae
Do you wish you felt more comfortable in te ao Māori/ the Māori world? Our 2 day, 1 night noho marae is just the ticket!
Online te reo Māori lessons
Do you want to ‘up’ your reo game? Our 10 week programme consists of 10 x 1 hour lessons and ticks the boxes above.
1:1 Tutoring
Feeling like you want to learn at your own pace, at times that suit you? Want a programme tailored to your specific needs?Then 1:1 tutoring will be perfect for you.
Our clients say
We had the privilege of working with Donna Barlow-Rolleston in 2022, a consultant to help build our Group’s understanding of Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti O Waitangi. She did an incredible job of showing how this carries through into day to day of our business.
Christophe Spence, Chief Digital Officer
For all who want to extend their Te Tiriti, Te Reo or Tikanga knowledge I would highly recommend Donna.
She is a wonderful kaiako, who is genuinely interested in individual and company journeys.
She is a wonderful kaiako, who is genuinely interested in individual and company journeys.
Karin Glucina, Managing Partner
A huge thank you to Donna and Romana – the training offered practical and real world examples of things we can do if we do not come from a Māori family or community – to be open and receptive to the cultural differences and help bridge the inequity gap.
Anita Dorrian, Sales Manager