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4. Good Decisions + Daily Discipline

Jan 26, 2025
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I recently came across this photo online (I've lost the source though!) and thought "Wow, this is the perfect combination for growth"

Good Decisions + Daily Discipline = A Masterpiece of Potential

Learning te reo Māori is a journey that requires both intention and consistency. The dichotomy of this is that those can be the hardest two parts of the journey to stay on top of. 

I believe the equation Good Decisions + Daily Discipline = A Masterpiece of Potential perfectly captures the essence of this process.

Every decision we make - whether it’s signing up for a course, practicing your pronunciation, or even greeting someone with a cheerful ā€œkia oraā€ - is a step toward your goal.

These small, good decisions add up over time.

However, the key to turning those decisions into something extraordinary lies in daily discipline.

Even 10 minutes a day can make a difference. You might learn a new kupu (word), practice a karakia (prayer), or refine your pepeha (introduction) - these small actions compound, building your confidence and connection to the language. 

BUT - they need to be consistent, they need to be regular, they need to be ongoing.

I've always like the analogy of plane taking off in relation to making progress in an area of interest. You need enough velocity for the plan to take off - you need consistency and quality in what you do. If you're too slow i.e. not consistent, the plane never takes off the runway.

So, what is The Masterpiece in the Good Decisions + Daily Disclipline equation?

Ko Koe! It is You!

A more connected, culturally enriched version of yourself. Learning te reo Māori isn’t just about the language; it’s about embracing a worldview, strengthening relationships, and honouring the legacy of a beautiful culture.

So, start small, be consistent, and trust the process.

Good decisions and daily discipline will help you unlock your full potential.

Te reo Māori is waiting for you to take that step - what will you decide today?

Te Ukaipo Update

[ Firstly, I have purposely dropped the macrons (the little line over the top of the vowels) from Te Ukaipo in the title as the letters seem to show up inconsistently. ]

Following on from last week's update - we had a very success workshop with our leadership group to close out several open action items and ideas. We now have an agreed platform to run forward with into 2025!

This is the first time we've had a broader governance and organisational structure beyond the simple "committee" (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer). We now have the right foundations to enable us to:

  • Very quickly and decisively assess opportunities and ideas and decide on whether to formalise them into a service or program via our Working Groups Framework.
  • Provide a consistent framework for every activity we do across our 4 subcommittees (social, cultural, welfare, and operations). This is our Programs Framework.
  • Systematically deliver capability uplifts via our Projects Framework.
  • Provide dedicated communications and information technology support to our Program Leads and Subcommittees in performing their roles.
  • Systematically manage organisational risk at all levels.

Now that all this is in place we are in a position to grow and prosper, delivering on our vision to foster a unified and culturally adept Māori community in the Hunter Region.

Next month we have two key programs kicking off.

  • Kapahaka Program
  • Monthly Connect Program

These two programs are embedded in our Social and Cultural subcommittees.

Next week I'll share a little more about what is happening in our Welfare subcommittee because across those three domains, this space has the most opportunity for impact!


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Kia ora!

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Thanks for reading this week's Newsletter.

Mauri ora!

Grant Whitbourne - Te Whānau-a-Apanui

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