Tūī Method: Strengthening mauri through oro, hā and ihirangaranga
In response to the amazing feedback we had to our August Kai & Kōrero session on the Tūī Method with Sophronia Smith (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne), we have invited Sophronia to deliver this new learning & development session for social services kaimahi. We continue to hear from kaimahi that training focused on wellbeing and hauora is needed and deeply valued. This opportunity is a direct response to those requests.
The Tūī Method is an Indigenous approach to restoring and strengthening mauri (vitality) for those working in social services. Inspired by the Tūī, a kaitiaki and spiritual messenger renowned for its extraordinary gift of song, the Tūī Method has three key pillars — hā (breath), oro (sound) and ihirangaranga (frequency). The approach is steeped in pūrākau and whakapapa kōrero, weaving ancestral knowledge into contemporary social services contexts. The Tūī Method equips kaimahi with practical tools to navigate high-stress environments, work effectively in complex situations and across all relationship dynamics, strengthen hononga, and protect their own mauri. This session provides the foundation for a three-part A E U framework.
The session has been designed for both individuals wanting to work on their own hauora and teams wanting to focus on collective hauora. It will be a practical and engaging session. Participants will receive resources and guided audio practices to support continued learning beyond the session.
What participants at our August Kai & Kōrero session said:
“I wish the session was longer!! Beautiful wairua and kaupapa!”
“It was a great introduction and left me wanting more.”
“This session was amazing. It would be great to bring to the team”
Sophronia Smith
Ko Maungarake ngā pae maunga.
Ko Ruamahanga te awa.
Ko Hurunuiōrangi te marae.
Ko Ngāti Parera te hapū.
Ko Kahungunu te iwi.
Ko Takitimu te waka.
Ko Sophronia Smith tōku ingoa.
Sophronia Smith is the Pou Matua Tiaki Whānau/Practice Leader at Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Social Services, an educator, researcher, professional singer, and founder of the Tūī Method—an innovative Indigenous approach to restoring and strengthening mauri (vitality and life force) across individuals, teams, and organisations.
After experiencing mauri depletion across a 25-year career spanning social services, education, community development, and leadership, Sophronia created the Tūī Method to restore mauri and strengthen the organisations that carry our communities.
Designed specifically for NGOs, social services, iwi, health, and education, the Tūī Method supports organisations whose people care deeply for the individuals, whānau, and communities they serve while navigating complex political, cultural, and relational environments. Over time, the weight of this work can diminish mauri.
Sophronia lives in the Wairarapa with her four whāngai. She remains actively involved with her iwi and marae, Hurunuiōrangi, performs with Te Rangiura o Wairarapa, performs professionally throughout Aotearoa, teaches kapa haka at Wairarapa College, and is committed to the mauri ora of mokopuna and whānau.
Cancellation policy
We require a minimum number of participants for the workshop to go ahead. We will send registrants a booking confirmation one week before the workshop date. If the workshop cannot go ahead, we will offer you a postponement date or a full refund.
If you need to cancel, please notify Te Pai Ora SSPA by emailing learning@sspa.org.nz, one week prior to the workshop.
Refunds will not be given for registration cancellations (including “no shows” at the workshop), but registrations can be transferred to another colleague in your organisation at any time prior to the workshop by contacting learning@sspa.org.nz.
