Waka Huia Kōrero: Development of an online professional development resource to support successful navigation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi relationships, partnerships, and contexts

In 2023, kaimahi based at Te Tumu Herenga (Libraries and Learning Services) at Waipapa Taumata Rau (The University of Auckland) created Te Waka Huia Kōrero (a self-directed Canvas course). The aim of the course was to build capabilities which strengthened kaimahi knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and te reo me ōna tikanga (Māori language and practices). Te Waka Huia Kōrero aims to allow kamahi to navigate their own self-paced journey of understanding through three scaffolded stages of learning: mōhio (cognisance), mārama (understanding), and mātauranga (knowledge). The Canvas course contains a variety of videos, readings, and audio files and serves as a kete of resources and learning opportunities which are philosophically grounded in a Te Ao Māori context and which is dynamic, scaffolded and interconnected. The course has been developed to specifically support the Whakamana Kaimahi Capability Framework developed by Te Tiriti o Waitangi Rōpū within Te Tumu Herenga. This framework aims to build capabilities that support kaimahi roles, and to help them better understand and successfully navigate Te Tiriti relationships, partnerships and contexts. This paper will outline the development of the Te Waka Huia Kōrero course including the collection and curation of resources, the scaffolding of content for specific learner needs and levels of understanding, the learning design process and pedagogical considerations when working in an online context. The paper will also provide information on how the course has been practically implemented to support the existing professional development planning currently undertaken by Libraries and Learning Services staff at the university.