Mātauranga Māori and moving into new workspaces

MM recognises that workplaces are not just physical - rather they are spiritual, emotional, intellectual, social spaces.

The goal is to create the best circumstances whereby people can do their best work.

According to mm, attention needs to be paid to the spiritual, emotional, intellectual, social dimensions of the space so that the best circumstances are achieved.

(This is what is meant by 'one has to use the right kete for the right contents' or 'the tikanga/kawa for one house is not right for another'.)

There are a number of ways of achieving this:
  • clarity of kaupapa (attention paid to the name of the space, communicates kaupapa and intention)
  • Clarity concerning who is the space for? (Hence the question 'mō wai tēnei whare? in karakia for opening a whare)
  • Placing of a mauri stone is about intentions and setting the energy conditions for the intentions to be achieved
  • Opening blessing is about directly addressing the physical structure as the site or vessels in which the intended mana is planned to flow (mana used here to mean the authority and creativity of the group using the space)
  • Ongoing hui is about continually revisiting kaupapa, intentions and who the building is for - this is done in regular mihi each time visitors come, meetings are held etc to keep the fundamental kaupapa alive.

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