Empowerment & Whakamana in ECE - Wellington

This professional learning session explores the concepts of empowerment and whakamana in early childhood education.

While these ideas are widely referenced in curriculum and policy, many kaiako continue to ask:

• What do they actually look like in practice?
• How do we thoughtfully share power with tamariki?
• And how is whakamana reflected in our everyday decisions, interactions, and teaching approaches?

Josh will guide participants through these questions using examples from his PhD research and real-world teaching contexts.

The session will unpack common tensions, offer practical strategies, and support kaiako to strengthen relationships, team culture, and mana-enhancing practice.

This PLD event will be ideal for beginning and experienced kaiako working with young children aged 2-5 years.

Kaiako will develop a deeper understanding of empowerment and whakamana in its practical application within early childhood settings.

Participants will explore how to recognise and thoughtfully navigate power dynamics with tamariki and whānau, and how to balance individual rights within a collectivist learning community.

This PLD will support kaiako to reflect on their own sense of empowerment, while identifying strategies to foster empowering relationships, strengthen team culture, and enhance everyday practice.

Kaiako will also gain clarity on the key distinctions and connections between empowerment and whakamana, supporting more culturally grounded and mana-enhancing approaches in their centres.

Presenter - Josh Allen, Lecturer Kaiako Te Rito Maioha

Josh Allen is a passionate early childhood educator, with his doctoral research exploring the concepts of empowerment and whakamana in ECE in Aotearoa New Zealand. Josh has worked with Childspace, facilitating professional learning across Aotearoa on topics including nature-based education and the role of rituals in ECE, and is now with us here at Te Rito Maiohoa continuing to spread this amazing mahi.

His work is grounded in relational pedagogy, bicultural commitment, and supporting kaiako to translate theory into meaningful everyday practice. Josh is an engaging and reflective facilitator, known for creating thought-provoking, engaging, and inspiring learning experiences.