From July 1–3, our Breakthrough Leaders cohort gathered in Ōtautahi Christchurch for a powerful three-day wānanga grounded in regenerative leadership, whakapapa, and collective renewal.
This year’s theme, Seeds of Change, invited participants to reflect on Matariki, navigate cycles of wintering and growth, and explore bold new ways of leading with courage, compassion, and vision.
Highlights from the Wānanga:
🌆 City Walk with Lianne Dalziel
A reflective hīkoi through Ōtautahi with former mayor Lianne Dalziel, exploring the city’s journey of post-traumatic growth and its evolving regenerative identity. Lianne encouraged the rōpū to trust the communities they serve, reminding us: “Ask questions — because you’ll uncover answers you won’t find otherwise.”
She spoke of leadership not as a title, but as a mark of character — something grounded in integrity, humility, and a willingness to share.
💬 Talanoa Time
A dedicated space where wāhine held each other’s truths, aspirations, and leadership journeys with care and presence.
🍽️ Dinner at Kate Sheppard House
An intimate evening honouring Aotearoa’s suffrage legacy, joined by the incredible Nina Oberg Humphries — Cook Islands multimedia artist, Pacific arts advocate, and founder of Fibre Gallery. Nina shared powerful insights on Ai (Ancestral Intelligence) and the role of lineage in leadership.
🎶 Creative Workshop with Soul Solomon, Mark Vanilau, Grace & Khonnah
A beautiful weaving of music, storytelling, and intergenerational visioning — inviting wāhine to imagine leadership through an artistic lens, to share their words over music, a whaanau where leadership is carried through sound, through story and through song.
🕊️ Kōrero with Sakinah Community Trust
A moving session with Hamimah Ahmat and Salwa, who shared their personal stories of grief, resilience, and the kaupapa of Unity Week — reminding us that regeneration begins in relationship, remembrance, and purpose.
“You don’t often leave a conversation feeling both more grounded and more expanded. The kōrero with Sakinah Trust reminded us that the seeds of change are sown through compassion, clarity, and deep community commitment.”
— Breakthrough Leaders participant
🧖🏽♀️ Connection and Recalibration
Time to relax at He Puna Taimoana, deepen relationships, explore personal leadership rhythms, and begin preparing for the next gathering in Samoa.