Start with the Foundations

Everything Comes From Somewhere

Before we can design zero waste systems or grow circular economies, we must understand the deeper systems that surround us — the whakapapa of our stuff, the whenua from which it all comes, and the tikanga that guides how we relate to Papatūānuku.

Wānanga Tūāpapa offers four introductory sessions grounded in kaupapa Māori to help whānau, hapū, and communities step confidently into climate and waste action. Whether you’re just starting out or seeking to reconnect, this is where we lay the foundation.

How We Create Change

Through this programme, you’ll learn how to:

• Trace the origins of the materials we use every day
• Understand the difference between linear and circular systems
• Conduct a basic waste audit in your whare or workplace
• Explore what really happens when we recycle (and where it goes)
• Apply the principles of the waste hierarchy
• Align tikanga Māori with modern zero waste living

Why Our Systems Need Rethinking

• A strong understanding of systems helps us take meaningful environmental action
• Connecting mātauranga Māori with sustainability empowers communities to act
• Reducing waste and carbon emissions starts with everyday awareness
• Collective behaviour change begins with clarity and context
• Relearning our role as kaitiaki helps restore balance with te taiao

What We Learn Together – From Rubbish to Rethinking

Wānanga One: Ngā Rawa Māori o te Ao Tūroa | Natural Resources

Explore the five natural resources our everyday items are made from. Learn what renewable and non-renewable resources are, and how careful choices and reduced consumption support Papatūānuku.

Wānanga Two: Te Pūnaha Whakapeto Hautaonga | The System of Stuff

Take a big-picture look at the journey of our stuff — from resource extraction to disposal. Discover the difference between linear and circular systems, and what we can do to reduce harm to te taiao and our atua

Wānanga Three: Arotakenga Para | Waste Check

Get hands-on with a real waste audit. Learn how to sort, classify, and assess what’s going to landfill — and identify how your systems can be improved to reduce, divert, and redesign waste.

Wānanga Four: Paparanga Para | The Waste Hierarchy

Discover practical alternatives to landfill. Learn how to compost, recycle, reuse, and most importantly, avoid and reduce waste. Connect these practices to both the modern waste hierarchy and traditional Māori values.

Change Is Possible — And Measurable

Conversations about climate and waste can sometimes feel disconnected or too complex to begin. Wānanga Tūāpapa offers a grounded, kaupapa Māori starting point — one that begins with whakapapa, values, and tikanga.

These wānanga help make sense of where our resources come from, where they go, and how we can respond in ways that reflect our role as kaitiaki. Whether you’re starting fresh or strengthening your foundation, this is a space to build clarity, connection, and collective confidence.

Let’s Lay the Groundwork Together

Ready to build a strong foundation for climate action in your whānau, hapū, or community?

Wānanga Tūāpapa offers a values-based starting point for reconnecting with te taiao and taking practical steps toward a circular, sustainable future. Let’s kōrero about bringing these wānanga to your rohe.