http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.arahina.co.nz en-us Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:17:01 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/post/161466/why-its-okay-to-agree-to-disagree-in-strategy-workshops/ Many people assume that the role of a facilitator is to help groups reach agreement.But facilitation is not about forcing consensus.A facilitator’s role is to create a space where diverse perspectives can be shared, understood, and explored.The goal is not to push people toward the same answer, but to help the group understand each other and find a way forward together.Sometimes that means discovering where people meet in the middle.And sometimes it means recognising that agreement simply is n... Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:22:07 +1300 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/#post161466 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/post/161464/how-to-turn-your-strategic-plan-into-an-actionable-roadmap/ Strategic plans often look impressive on paper.They outline bold visions, strong values, and ambitious goals.But without a clear way to track progress, many strategies struggle to move beyond the document itself.That is why turning a strategy into an operational plan is such an important step.Whether it is called an annual plan, an action plan, or an operational plan, the purpose is the same. It translates high level aspirations into practical work that teams can track and deliver.... Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:56:15 +1300 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/#post161464 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/post/161463/whenua-mapping-a-powerful-tool-for-building-connection-and-collaboration/ Whenua mapping is one of the simplest activities used in AraHina’s workshops, yet it often becomes one of the most powerful.It has proven to be an effective way to bring together fifth generation farmers and tangata whenua in a way that honours everyone’s whakapapa, history, and connection to place.By grounding conversations in the land itself, relationships can begin from a place of shared understanding.... Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:49:52 +1300 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/#post161463 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/post/161462/designing-strategy-with-the-people-it-serves/ The most powerful strategies are not written in boardrooms.They are shaped by the people who live and work within the systems the strategy is meant to guide.Yet in many organisations, strategies are still designed by a small group of leaders or board members with limited input from the wider community.Most of the time, this is not intentional.Bringing large groups of people together, hearing many different perspectives, and reaching agreement on a shared direction can be challenging.But when it ... Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:44:20 +1300 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/#post161462 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/post/161461/using-whakapapa-to-shape-organisational-strategy/ Whakapapa holds a central place within te ao Māori.It connects people to their ancestors, their history, and the journeys that have shaped who they are today.This understanding is reflected in common phrases such as Ka mua, ka muri and Onamata ki anamata, which describe the idea of looking back in order to move forward.For Māori, honouring the past is not separate from planning for the future. It is an essential part of it.... Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:37:17 +1300 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/#post161461 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/post/161460/using-purakau-and-symbolism-in-maori-strategic-planning/ In te ao Māori, metaphors and symbolism play an important role in how knowledge is shared, understood, and carried forward.Stories, pūrākau, and cultural symbols help connect people to their whakapapa, their whenua, and the values that guide their communities.Because of this, when designing strategic planning workshops with Māori organisations, it is important to understand the stories and history that shape the identity of the group.These stories often become a powerful foundation for the s... Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:32:01 +1300 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/#post161460 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/post/161459/why-kaupapa-maori-strategies-actually-get-used/ One of the questions often asked about strategy is a simple one.Do organisations actually use the strategies they create?Many people have seen strategic plans developed through lengthy processes, only to watch them sit on a shelf once the planning phase is complete.When strategy is created through a kaupapa Māori approach, the outcome can look very different.... Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:23:55 +1300 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/#post161459 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/post/161458/what-community-facilitation-teaches-you-that-no-textbook-can/ Facilitating in communities can be one of the most challenging forms of facilitation work.The conversations are often raw. The divisions can be deep. The issues being discussed may carry the weight of generations.And one thing becomes clear very quickly.There are no textbooks that can fully prepare you for it.... Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:48:30 +1300 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/#post161458 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/post/161456/what-is-maori-facilitation-lessons-from-the-powhiri-process/ When people speak about facilitation, they often refer to modern workshop methods, leadership frameworks, or organisational tools.However, when facilitation is explored through a Māori lens, a different picture begins to emerge.Many of the principles that guide facilitation today have long existed within Māori cultural practices.One of the most powerful examples of this can be seen within the pōwhiri process on a marae.... Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:37:16 +1300 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/#post161456 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/post/161455/creating-a-marae-vision-through-whakapapa-mapping/ Strategic planning for marae and hapū often begins in places that conventional strategy processes do not.Rather than starting with organisational structures or financial priorities, the work often begins with whakapapa, history, and connection to the whenua.During a recent strategy wānanga with the whānau of Harataunga Marae in the Coromandel, this approach played a key role in shaping the collective vision for the marae.... Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:29:40 +1300 http://www.arahina.co.nz/blog/#post161455