Focus Pātai
- Who already holds influence and expertise in our hapori?
- What does respectful partnership look like in practice?
- How do we move from whakaaro to mahi — safely and sustainably?
At A Glance
- Duration: 110 minutes (includes video content)
- Year levels: Years 9–13 (Phases 4–5)
- Learning areas: Social Sciences, Civics, Community Studies
- Mode: Case studies + partnership mapping
Invite local voices where possible (iwi, council, NGOs) to strengthen authenticity.
🌅 Karakia & Cultural Opening
"Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui" — Be strong, be brave, be steadfast
Opening Protocol (5 minutes)
- Community Acknowledgment: Honoring the organizations and people working for positive change
- Leadership Reflection: Considering the leadership already present in our communities
- Partnership Intention: Setting intention to build bridges and collaborate
🎯 Learning Objectives & Success Criteria
By the end of this lesson, ākonga will be able to:
- Analyze: Examine different models of youth and community leadership
- Map: Identify potential community partners and collaboration opportunities
- Plan: Design concrete action projects that address community needs
- Strategize: Develop approaches for building effective intergenerational partnerships
Success Criteria — Ākonga will demonstrate:
- ✓ Understanding of diverse leadership styles and approaches
- ✓ Ability to identify community assets and partnership opportunities
- ✓ Clear, achievable action project proposals
- ✓ Strategic thinking about collaboration and relationship-building
Phase 1: Leadership Models & Inspiration Analysis (35 minutes)
Māori Community Leadership in Action (15 minutes)
15 minutes video + discussionTeaching Instructions:
- Before viewing: Ask students what they think makes a community leader effective
- During viewing: Focus on the diverse roles and strategies of Māori community leaders
- Key observations: Note how cultural values inform their leadership approach
Leadership Styles Gallery & Pattern Analysis
12 minutes sharing + 8 minutes synthesisLeadership Showcase (12 minutes):
Students share their researched examples of youth leadership in structured speed-sharing format:
Leadership Framework Synthesis (8 minutes):
Whole class creates collective framework on whiteboard:
Leadership Qualities
What personal qualities do effective youth leaders demonstrate?
Leadership Strategies
What approaches and tactics do they use to create change?
Community Connection
How do they build and maintain relationships with their communities?
Cultural Grounding
How do they stay connected to their values and identity while leading?
Phase 2: Community Partnership Ecosystem Mapping (40 minutes)
Youth Collaboration & Innovation (15 minutes)
Teaching Instructions:
- Before viewing: Discuss how young people collaborate to create change
- During viewing: Focus on examples of youth-led initiatives and partnerships
- Key observations: Note how diverse skills and perspectives strengthen collective action
Collaborative Activity: Mapping Our Community Assets & Opportunities
Community Asset Inventory (15 minutes):
Working in groups of 4–5, students create comprehensive maps of community partners and resources:
Step 1: Sector Identification (3 minutes)
Each group takes 1–2 sectors and brainstorms organizations/groups in their community:
- Education: Schools, libraries, training providers, tutoring
- Health & Wellbeing: Health centers, mental health services, sports clubs
- Environment: Conservation groups, sustainability initiatives, community gardens
- Arts & Culture: Museums, galleries, cultural centers, performance groups
- Social Services: Community centers, food banks, support services
- Economic: Local businesses, cooperatives, employment services
- Civic & Political: Council, advocacy groups, community boards
- Technology: Maker spaces, digital inclusion programs, tech companies
Step 2: Asset Analysis (5 minutes)
For each organization identified, consider:
- Resources: What do they have to offer? (space, expertise, funding, networks)
- Mission Alignment: How might their goals connect with youth leadership/rangatiratanga?
- Youth Engagement: Do they currently involve young people?
- Partnership Potential: What kind of collaboration might be possible?
Step 3: Connection Mapping (4 minutes)
Create visual map showing organizations as nodes, existing connections, and potential new connections youth could facilitate.
Step 4: Opportunity Identification (3 minutes)
Highlight 2–3 specific partnership opportunities that could address a community need, provide youth leadership opportunities, and build intergenerational connections.
Gallery Walk & Synthesis (10 minutes):
- Groups post their sector maps around the room
- Students walk through all maps, adding sticky notes with additional organizations, personal connections, and partnership ideas
- Pattern recognition: Where are the biggest gaps in youth engagement?
Phase 3: Action Project Design & Partnership Strategy (35 minutes)
Building Movements for Māori Social Change (15 minutes)
Teaching Instructions:
- Before viewing: Discuss how social change movements are built and sustained
- During viewing: Focus on strategies for effective community action and advocacy
- Key observations: Note how partnerships and collective action drive change
Project Planning Workshop: From Vision to Action
Project Development Process (20 minutes):
Students work in self-selected groups of 3–4 to design a concrete action project for their community:
Phase 1: Issue & Vision Alignment (5 minutes)
- Issue Selection: Choose a specific community issue you want to address
- Vision Connection: How does addressing this issue support your vision of rangatiratanga?
- Community Impact: Who would benefit from addressing this issue?
Phase 2: Partnership Strategy (5 minutes)
- Primary Partners: Which organizations from today's mapping could be key collaborators?
- Resource Needs: What resources (space, funding, expertise, time) would you need?
- Youth Leadership Role: How would young people lead this project?
Phase 3: Project Design (8 minutes)
Develop your project proposal including:
- Project Title & 1-Sentence Description
- Goals: What do you want to achieve? (3 specific outcomes)
- Activities: What would you actually do? (4–5 concrete activities)
- Timeline: How long would this take? What are the phases?
- Success Measures: How would you know if the project is working?
Phase 4: Implementation Strategy (2 minutes)
- First Step: What would you do in the next month to get started?
- Community Buy-in: How would you get community support for the project?
Project Presentations & Feedback (5 minutes):
Each group presents their project in 60 seconds, followed by 30 seconds of appreciative feedback focusing on strengths and potential.
🌅 Whakamutunga — Reflection & Closing
Leadership Commitment & Community Connection (5 minutes)
Personal Leadership Reflection:
Students write brief reflection:
- What leadership qualities from today do you want to develop in yourself?
- Which community partnerships most excite you and why?
- What is one step you could take this week to connect with community organizations?
Closing Circle — Community Commitment:
Students share one specific way they will engage with their community in the next month, followed by collective affirmation:
"He kākano ahau i ruia mai i Rangiātea"
We are seeds of change, rooted in ancestral wisdom, growing into the leaders our communities need.
📊 Assessment & Next Steps
Formative Assessment — Today's Evidence:
- Analysis Skills: Quality of leadership model analysis and pattern recognition
- Community Knowledge: Depth of community asset mapping and partnership identification
- Project Planning: Feasibility and innovation in action project proposals
- Strategic Thinking: Understanding of collaboration and relationship-building strategies
Preparation for Lesson 5:
- Project Refinement: Further develop your action project proposal
- Community Contact: Identify one adult in the community you could interview about your project idea
- Skills Assessment: Reflect on what skills you would need to develop to lead your project
🛠️ Teacher Resources & Adaptations
Community Connection Support:
- Local Directory: Prepare list of community organizations specific to your area
- Contact Facilitation: Help students connect with community leaders
- Guest Speakers: Invite community leaders to share partnership opportunities
Project Development Support:
- Planning Templates: Provide structured project planning worksheets
- Example Projects: Share examples of successful youth-led community projects
- Mentorship Connections: Connect students with adult mentors for project guidance
Assessment Adaptations:
- Portfolio Development: Students compile their project plans into comprehensive portfolios
- Presentation Formats: Allow various presentation modes (verbal, visual, digital)
- Community Validation: Opportunities for community members to provide feedback
Kaiako Planning Snapshot
Social Studies — Future Rangatiratanga — Years 9–10
Curriculum alignment: Te Mataiaho | Social Studies — Community and participation; identity, culture, and organisation (Years 9–10). Achievement Objective: Students explore how communities respond to challenges and take action to create change.
Ngā Whāinga Akoranga — Learning Intentions
- Articulate a personal and collective vision for rangatiratanga in their community in 2050
- Analyse how young people can lead social, environmental, and economic change in Aotearoa
- Design or evaluate a community action project grounded in tikanga and kaupapa Māori principles
Differentiation & Proximinal Guidance
Extension: develop a full community action plan with stakeholder analysis and timeline. Scaffold: vision statement sentence frames and project planning template. On-level: group project with structured planning guide. Entry: role-play leadership scenarios with guided debrief.