Kaupapa Māori Tuakana-Teina Micro-credential for Kaiāwhina (Community Support Workers)

Lead organisations:

Whaioranga Trust, Te Puna Ora o Mataatua, Ngāti Ranginui Iwi

This project will co-design and develop a Kaupapa Māori Level 4 Tuakana-Teina micro-credential to strengthen the leadership capability, resilience, and career pathways of Kaiāwhina. With over 620 Kaiāwhina employed across the Bay of Plenty—87% of whom are Māori—the initiative responds to barriers such as limited literacy, digital skills, and inflexible training pathways.

The programme embeds the Tuakana-Teina model, recognising the experience of senior Kaiāwhina (Tuakana) to mentor and support newer workers (Teina). Co-design will be led by Kaiāwhina and Hauora Māori providers, in partnership with Toi Ohomai as the PTE provider, with NZQA accreditation and TEC funding sought to ensure sustainability. The first cohort is expected to be delivered in Semester 2, July 2026.

By formalising leadership and manaakitanga skills, the micro-credential will improve retention, job satisfaction, and career progression for Kaiāwhina, while enhancing the quality of care for whānau. The model has strong potential to scale nationally, setting a precedent for Kaupapa Māori micro-credentials across the hauora sector.