October 30th, 2026
The Power of the Village
In the coming weeks, those who are eighteen years and older in Aotearoa will be placed with the enormous privilege to elect a new government of leaders who will lead our country for the next three years. I have been thinking more about the discussion we have had with our rangatahi in the Puāwai leadership programme around what it means to be a ‘villager within a village’. It has had me reflecting on the absolute blessing it is to be part of multiple villages of people and places that contribute to my sense of belonging and connectedness
All my life I have been fortunate to be surrounded by a village of extraordinary people. They are a mix of relatives, chosen family, church family, school family, sports family, leadership family, work family and more. The understanding of what a village meant was engrained in my mind from a young age, however, it was more of a concept, than a reality. When I was almost thirteen years old, my parents, two sisters, younger brother and I moved to my dad’s village of Luatuanu’u, an East coast surf village on the island of Upolu, Samoa. These are the lands of my ancestors, many I had never met or heard about before, and some, we were reconnecting, or meeting for the first time. Throughout the next two years the concept of the village turned into my reality and physical surroundings. I learnt what it meant to be part of a greater ecosystem of villagers, the many nuances that came with this. I learnt to tend to the land, look after the environment, reefs, and animals. I learnt new ways of being, family, culture and traditions, more about language, song, dance, and what it meant to be part of this village that expands beyond the waters that envelope the shores of Luatuanu’u.
Within the Samoan culture, proverbial expressions or sayings are often used to teach, give guidance, extend gratitude, provide correction, and acknowledge people, things and places that sit within the past, present and future. Like many whakatauki, quotes, scripture, or sayings, there can be multiple ways of understanding the deeper meanings behind the words.
“E afua mai I mauga tetele manuia o le ‘nu’u – from the high mountains are the blessings of the village”
One of the meanings of this Samoan proverb is that it encourages remembrance of the wisdom, values, and strengths passed down through generations. A reminder that language, identity, culture, sense of belonging, reciprocal learning across all ages, and connectedness are key to fueling the foundations that hold community, society, and a village together. However, what do we do when we have differences, mixed opinions or ways of doing things? I have learnt from my Leadershiplab village that difference is also our strength, it is needed to foster open talanoa – discussion about the complex issues we face in the world we live in, and together, find ways to bring all the goodness to create greater pathways to wellbeing for all. My hope is that as we move into elections, and cast our votes, may we be reflective of not only our individual needs and desires, but may we also be reflective of the village(s) we connect to, hold space for, and support. May we look to the mountains of remembrance, and embrace the blessings that have come before us, and continue to flow in order for equity to be abound, and differences and connectedness be celebrated.
This reflection piece was written by Wikitoria Kurene – Te Whāriki alumni and Community of Practice Committee Member, Puāwai Facilitator and Leadership Lab Consultant
October 30th, 2026
The Power of the Village
In the coming weeks, those who are eighteen years and older in Aotearoa will be placed with the enormous privilege to elect a new government of leaders who will lead our country for the next three years. I have been thinking more about the discussion we have had with our rangatahi in the Puāwai leadership programme around what it means to be a ‘villager within a village’. It has had me reflecting on the absolute blessing it is to be part of multiple villages of people and places that contribute to my sense of belonging and connectedness
All my life I have been fortunate to be surrounded by a village of extraordinary people. They are a mix of relatives, chosen family, church family, school family, sports family, leadership family, work family and more. The understanding of what a village meant was engrained in my mind from a young age, however, it was more of a concept, than a reality. When I was almost thirteen years old, my parents, two sisters, younger brother and I moved to my dad’s village of Luatuanu’u, an East coast surf village on the island of Upolu, Samoa. These are the lands of my ancestors, many I had never met or heard about before, and some, we were reconnecting, or meeting for the first time. Throughout the next two years the concept of the village turned into my reality and physical surroundings. I learnt what it meant to be part of a greater ecosystem of villagers, the many nuances that came with this. I learnt to tend to the land, look after the environment, reefs, and animals. I learnt new ways of being, family, culture and traditions, more about language, song, dance, and what it meant to be part of this village that expands beyond the waters that envelope the shores of Luatuanu’u.
Within the Samoan culture, proverbial expressions or sayings are often used to teach, give guidance, extend gratitude, provide correction, and acknowledge people, things and places that sit within the past, present and future. Like many whakatauki, quotes, scripture, or sayings, there can be multiple ways of understanding the deeper meanings behind the words.
“E afua mai I mauga tetele manuia o le ‘nu’u – from the high mountains are the blessings of the village”
One of the meanings of this Samoan proverb is that it encourages remembrance of the wisdom, values, and strengths passed down through generations. A reminder that language, identity, culture, sense of belonging, reciprocal learning across all ages, and connectedness are key to fueling the foundations that hold community, society, and a village together. However, what do we do when we have differences, mixed opinions or ways of doing things? I have learnt from my Leadershiplab village that difference is also our strength, it is needed to foster open talanoa – discussion about the complex issues we face in the world we live in, and together, find ways to bring all the goodness to create greater pathways to wellbeing for all. My hope is that as we move into elections, and cast our votes, may we be reflective of not only our individual needs and desires, but may we also be reflective of the village(s) we connect to, hold space for, and support. May we look to the mountains of remembrance, and embrace the blessings that have come before us, and continue to flow in order for equity to be abound, and differences and connectedness be celebrated.
This reflection piece was written by Wikitoria Kurene – Te Whāriki alumni and Community of Practice Committee Member, Puāwai Facilitator and Leadership Lab Consultant