What does this course cover?
A truly local government–specific Te Tiriti course that brings together tangata whenua and tangata tiriti perspectives in a practical, grounded way. This course shows both why Te Tiriti matters to local government, and how local government practitioners can uphold their responsibilities, giving you concrete actions to apply in your day-to-day council work.
Gain a deeper understanding of Māori perspectives on local government, decision-making, and partnership expectations, and learn how to identify and embed Te Tiriti practices in your own work. Designed for staff across all roles and levels, this course provides learning that is directly applicable in real council contexts.
This course is designed and facilitated by Hononga Consulting, led by Scott Summerfield and Lisa Hopa.
Scott and Lisa bring a distinctive partnership that blends academic rigor with deep lived experience. Their shared passion, complementary strengths, and grounded approach create a learning environment that is both engaging and evidence-based, ensuring participants feel informed, challenged, and supported.
Learning outcomes
Participants will:
- Understand the role and interaction of local government with te ao Māori.
- Understand the expectations of Māori katoa of local government and council staff.
- Be able to articulate how Te Tiriti o Waitangi relates to local government — including the source of responsibilities and what is required of councils.
- Be able to identify the contribution of local government to the history of colonisation and Tiriti breaches in Aotearoa.
- Be able to apply Te Tiriti and local council–Māori history to analysis and day-to-day work.
- Understand how Māori organise regarding local government.
- Understand general approaches to working with Māori, including identifying rights and interests and who should be involved.
- Understand tikanga Māori and the role of council staff.
- Be able to participate confidently in organisational conversations on tikanga and apply te ao Māori values and perspectives to council business.
- Be able to identify Te Tiriti practices in their work, including opportunities to take a leadership role.
Who should join
This course is designed for local government staff across all roles and levels who contribute to council decision-making, service delivery, planning, engagement, or policy advice.
It is suitable for people leaders and non-leaders, technical specialists, advisors, and operational kaimahi who need to understand how Te Tiriti o Waitangi, te ao Māori, and local Māori–council history shape their work.
It is particularly relevant for staff who:
- interact with mana whenua or Māori communities
- work in strategy, policy, analysis, engagement, or governance
- want to build capability and confidence in applying tikanga, Māori perspectives, and Te Tiriti principles in everyday council business.
This course has limited places. If you are interested in a similar course for a whole team of people, get in touch and we can work with you to bring the course to you.
Your facilitators
Lisa Hopa
Lisa Hopa
He mokopuna tenei o nga waka matua e wha, ko Kurahaupo, ko Tainui, ko Te Arawa hoki. I tipu ake au I raro i a Tararua maunga, no roto mai o te Wairarapa. Inaianei, e noho ana maua ko taku tamahine kei reira.
With a passion for education and personal growth, my academic journey has been a lifetime pursuit. With double undergraduate degrees in a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Māori Studies and a Bachelor of Physical Education, I also hold a Master of Professional Accounting and a Master of International Security. My educational pursuits are more recently centred around indigenous security and development issues, and how He Whakaputanga and Te Titiri o Waitangi can be reaffirmed in the defence and security realm.
Professionally, I have dedicated ten years to the Army as a General List Medical Officer, honing my leadership skills in high-pressure environments. My final regular force role was as a Senior Advisor Māori, utilizing my background and expertise to develop policy and advance Māori initiatives for service people. Prior to military service, I worked both overseas and locally as an accountant. In January 2026 I begin a new role as Pou Mataamua (CEO) for my iwi, Rangitane o Tamaki nui-a-Rua.
Family is the cornerstone of my life. I am a proud parent to one daughter, Kaia, and we share our home with two beloved furry whānau members. When not working, I enjoy engaging in various sports and physical activities, spending quality time with my wider family, traveling to new places, and continuously pursuing education.
With a rich tapestry of experiences, I share a commitment to community and service, education, and personal development, that has supported a multifaceted career and life journey.
Scott Summerfield
Scott Summerfield
Scott Summerfield (Tangata Tiriti) is Kaiarataki at Hononga Consulting. He is an unashamed fan of the impact and potential of local government, with over a decade of experience working across a wide range of councils across the motu. Scott acknowledges the humble and dedicated efforts of kaimahi across the sector on behalf of their communities to address the current significant challenges for local government.
Hononga Consulting partners with Taituarā and directly with many councils across Aotearoa to improve organisational Te Tiriti o Waitangi responsiveness in local government, and the Te Tiriti practice of local government kaimahi. He lives in eastern Wairarapa.
