Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement Self-directed Online Training

A culturally centred, strength-based model for wellbeing and positive behaviour change 

We offer self-directed learning for practitioners working across education, social services and health sectors.

Explore our courses

Susan Ngawati-Osborne & Nigel Marshall

Your Kaihuawaere Awheawhe – Facilitators
Susan Ngawati-Osborne (Ngāti Te Ara, Ngāti Kopaki, Ngāti Hine) and Nigel Marshall (England, NZ Pākehā) are dedicated leaders in social advocacy, education, and kaupapa Māori practice. Susan brings extensive experience in Māori community work, Te Tiriti o Waitangi training, and the Sexual Violence/Family Harm sector, with a focus on supporting tamariki, mokopuna and whānau affected by harm. She has held key roles in national and ministerial initiatives aimed at eliminating violence and remains active in iwi and hapū affairs.

Nigel, with a Master’s in Educational Psychology, has spent his career teaching and supporting special needs children, working closely with Māori students, whānau, and communities. His deep respect for Te Ao Māori has shaped his work in well-being and positive behaviour change. In 2012, he led the development of Te Ara Whakamana: Mana Enhancement, a uniquely New Zealand model for fostering well-being and transformation.

Together, Susan and Nigel are committed to empowering communities, learning environments, organisations and agencies through approaches that apply a combination of Indigenous and Western knowledge systems, to create equitable, effective, mana-enhancing outcomes.

Mā te kimi ka kite,
Mā te kite ka mōhio,
Mā te mōhio ka mārama

Seek and discover,
Discover and know,
Know and become enlightened

I love the concept of this entire course! The use of the mana model to deepen relationships with whānau and tamariki will be amazing for our centre. 
Early Childhood centre manager
PO Box 585, Turanga Nui a Kiwa, Gisborne 4040
info@akosolutionz.com      +64 27 226 8395
Copyright © 2025