Our purpose is clear: we exist to support and enable organisations to succeed in Aotearoa, New Zealand. We are driven by kaupapa Māori – a framework based on Māori values, customs and practices – and help our communities live tikanga Māori (Māori customs) as they build strong organisations.

One powerful model is the Tuakana-Teina mentorship model. Derived from Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori worldview), this model uses intergenerational relationships to grow, develop, and share wisdom. While traditional in its roots, the principles of Tuakana-Teina have a huge impact on companies and organisations navigating opportunities and challenges.

This post examines the history, meaning, and impact of the Tuakana-Teina mentorship model and how it can grow leadership, cultural resilience, and connections in companies and organisations. We’ll also show how The Massive Collective can help businesses and kaupapa integrate this model.

Understanding the Tuakana-Teina Mentorship Model 

Definition and Components 

The Tuakana-Teina mentorship model is grounded in the Māori understanding of relationships as reciprocal, respectful, and enduring. In this relationship, Tuakana refers to an elder sibling or mentor, someone with experience, knowledge, and wisdom. In this relationship, Teina refers to the younger sibling or mentee, who is learning and growing. This connection is not hierarchical in the Western sense but rather relational—both parties enrich each other differently. 

Central to this model is reciprocity: while the Tuakana provides guidance and leadership, the Teina’s youthful perspective and aspirations offer value in return. Furthermore, mutual respect ensures that the relationship is underpinned by manaakitanga (hospitality and kindness), making it a dynamic exchange rather than a top-down knowledge transfer. 

Cultural Significance 

The Tuakana-Teina model has been instrumental in preserving and transmitting intergenerational wisdom within Māori communities for generations. Like the passing on of oral traditions, this model ensures that mātauranga (knowledge) is shared within whānau (families) and between generations. 

By following tikanga Māori principles, the model fosters collective growth rather than individual pursuit, strengthening bonds between elders and youth. This framework reinforces connections to whakapapa (genealogy) and creates a sense of belonging that extends to the broader hapū (sub-tribe) and iwi (tribe). 

Strengthening Organisations through Tuakana-Teina 

Promoting Knowledge Sharing

Companies and Organisations founded on kaupapa that reflect Māori values face unique opportunities and challenges. The Tuakana-Teina model, when applied in business and operational contexts, creates a system where mātauranga Māori meets modern innovations. Tuakana can pass on invaluable lessons in cultural practices, governance principles, and leadership strategies, while Teina can complement this with fresh ideas, modern digital insights, and new ways of thinking.  

This interplay strengthens organisational capacity by merging the old with the new, creating culturally anchored yet forward-facing businesses. At The Massive Collective, we help organisations implement systems where knowledge sharing becomes a normalised practice, enhancing personal and team growth. 

Building Leadership Skills 

Cultivating leadership is one of the greatest strengths of the Tuakana-Teina model. Experienced leaders (Tuakana) share their whakaaro (perspectives) on leadership and provide the guidance necessary for Teina to step confidently into leadership roles. This mentorship ensures a seamless transition of power and leadership succession within organisations. 

We have worked with several organisations at The Massive Collective to establish leadership development programs that build upon this mentoring approach. Whether through structured wānanga (workshops) or informal support, we align mentoring frameworks with organisational goals to create empowered leaders driven by Tikanga Māori. 

Encouraging Cultural Resilience 

The model’s emphasis on cultural identity and intergenerational mentoring is critical to preserving and celebrating Māori heritage in workplaces. Through mentorship relationships, organisations can stay grounded in Mātauranga Māori and kaupapa Māori principles in environments that typically prioritise Western business models. 

Mentors can remind their mentees of the importance of speaking Te Reo Māori (Māori language), integrating marae-based protocols into corporate governance, and honouring indigenous knowledge systems. This anchoring fosters resilience and pride in cultural heritage, even amidst the pressures of modern business settings. 

Fostering Collaboration and Networking 

A key outcome of the Tuakana-Teina model is the strengthening of collaborative spaces. By fostering a culture of mentorship, organisations create environments where collective input, team learning, and trust flourish. When Tuakana guides Teina, not in isolation but across networks, these relationships ripple into fostering partnerships with other organisations, businesses, and broader stakeholders. 

At The Massive Collective, we help organisations cultivate spaces where Tuakana-Teina mentorship becomes systemic. We connect our clients with wider Māori-led networks and facilitate collaborations that drive collective success. 

Overcoming Challenges in Implementation 

Identifying Barriers 

While the Tuakana-Teina model holds immense promise, organisations face inherent barriers to implementation. Common challenges include:  

• Resource constraints limit the time and space needed to facilitate mentorship.
• A lack of formal structures that support knowledge sharing.
• Resistance to change within leadership teams transitioning from hierarchical systems to relational models (flat). 

Strategies for Success 

Overcoming these challenges requires strategic planning and a clear commitment to aligning operations with kaupapa Māori. Practical strategies that we advocate for at The Massive Collective include: 

• Establishing mentorship programs as a workplace priority, with allocated funding and measurable goals.
• Providing training opportunities for mentors and mentees to understand how to engage in reciprocal learning.
• Encouraging buy-in from leadership by showcasing the tangible benefits of a Tuakana-Teina approach. 

The Role of The Massive Collective 

Our mission is to empower companies and organisations by serving as both a resource and a partner. We provide culturally attuned guidance inspired by Te Ao Māori, helping businesses embrace their whakapapa and apply Mātauranga Māori in contemporary contexts. 

We offer mentorship frameworks, workshops, and facilitated networks that align with each organisation’s vision and values. For example: 

• Tailored tools to help implement the Tuakana-Teina model in a culturally relevant way.
• Workshops on Māori leadership values, team collaboration, and intergenerational knowledge sharing.
• Networking opportunities connect like-minded businesses to grow collectively. 

The Tuakana-Teina mentorship model offers organisations a pathway to embody their values, strengthen their leadership, and preserve their cultural heritage in modern-day Aotearoa. This model creates resilient, collaborative, and future-ready organisations by enabling reciprocal relationships grounded in respect. 

The Massive Collective stands at the forefront of supporting businesses on this journey. Our expertise, resources, and culturally anchored frameworks create a fertile space for Māori organisations to thrive. 

We invite you to connect with us today. Let’s kōrero about how The Massive Collective can guide your organisation in implementing the Tuakana-Teina model and other Kaupapa Māori approaches.

Together, we can strengthen your organisation, people, and kaupapa.