Understanding Whānau Leadership

Emeritus Professor Sir Mason Durie, Pou for Te Pou Matakana describes how whānau leadership is related to whānau priorities and whānau strengths.
Leadership for one whānau might give emphasis to sound economic planning; for another, it might be leadership in mātauranga Māori, or in te reo Māori, or in education or in sports. But all leaders will help to provide direction for whānau in modern times. Underlying all these forms of leadership there are common qualities. They include a capacity to form working relationships, an ability to look past day-to-day problems, a focus on the future, an ability to lead from behind, connections with other leaders beyond the whānau, and a willingness to carry responsibility and the hopes - and burdens of whānau.