Good governance with a Pacific lens
Empowering Pacific Leaders Through Purposeful Governance
Good Governance with a Pacific Lens (GGWAPL) is designed to strengthen governance capability among Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand. The course centres Pacific perspectives, values and lived realities—supporting participants to serve with cultural integrity, confidence, and effectiveness on boards and in leadership spaces.
This one-day course builds on Pacific people’s strengths and experiences and is totally unique in the world of governance training in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Good Governance with a Pacific Lens
Thank you, fa’afetai lava, meitaki ma’ata for your interest in the Good Governance with a Pacific Lens (GGWAPL) course which was developed in 2021 by experienced governance practitioners Caren Rangi, ONZM and Mele Wendt, MNZM.
Since 2021, Mele and Caren have delivered approximately 30 courses to 650 people in 11 centres from Whangarei down to Dunedin as well as online. We have been proud to see many of these attendees increase their confidence in their governance roles and to apply for governance roles and successfully be appointed to boards.
A Governance Course grounded in Pacific ways of knowing
GGWAPL is tailored for current and aspiring Pacific board members, trustees, committee members and leaders who want to grow their governance skills while staying true to Pacific cultures and worldviews.
Participants explore key governance principles, responsibilities, and practices—but with a specific focus on how Pacific values, leadership styles, and community contexts shape effective governance.
The course blends formal learning with talanoa, storytelling, practical case studies and collective reflection. It’s not just about how to govern well—it’s about doing so in a way that honours who we are.
Course Delivery
The course is delivered face-to-face over one day, starting at 9.00am and finishing at 4.45pm, in various locations around New Zealand.
Groups are kept small (up to 25 pax) for maximum talanoa/discussion and interaction.
Learning Objectives
Define governance and have a high-level understanding of the fundamentals of good governance, through Western and Pacific lenses.
Gain understanding of what governance practices look like in action at the board table.
Have an understanding of the general skills, attributes and experiences needed for governance.
Know the steps needed to start or further build their governance experience.
Be more confident, as Pacific people, in utilising our strengths and experiences to contribute effectively in the boardroom.
Who should enrol?
GGWAPL is ideal for:
Pacific people considering or stepping into governance roles
Pacific trustees, board members or committee chairs
Pacific people seeking a governance course grounded in Pacific culture
Leaders in Pacific organisations or community groups
Course Schedule for 2025
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 22 July | Rotorua |
| Tuesday 12 August | New Plymouth |
| Wednesday 3 September | Nelson |
| Tuesday 30 September | Dunedin |
| Wednesday 1 October | Oamaru |
| Wednesday 8 October | Palmerston North |
| Thursday 9 October | Whanganui |
| Wednesday 19 November | Invercargill |
Attendance at courses is free and on a first-come-first-served basis. Registering does not guarantee a place. We will email to advise whether you are registered or on a wait-list.
If you have already done our course you cannot enrol in it again (much as we’d like to see you).
All these courses are funded by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples/MPP (unless stated otherwise). We are most grateful to MPP and other organisations who support our courses so that they can be made available to the public for free.
To register for a 2025 course listed here, please complete our Registration form
If you would like to attend a course but there is no course offered in your area in 2025, email info@ggwapl.nz
Alumna, 2023
“GGWAPL gave me the knowledge and confidence I needed to step into a board role, but even more importantly, it helped me realise I could lead in a way that stays true to my culture.”
Contracted GGWAPL course delivery and other governance support
Caren and Mele are sometimes contracted to deliver the GGWAPL course for organisations with specific audiences. This can be for the board of an organisation or a collection of board or groups, or for governors in particular sectors.
Flexibility - The course can be modified to suit the needs of the contracting organisation in terms of course length, content and focus, and is contextualised to that specific audience/group. It can also be delivered on Saturdays which is a good option for many community organisations and groups.
If interested in contracting a GGWAPL course, please email info@ggwapl.nz to request a proposal which will outline the details including costs.
Caren and Mele also (individually) provide mentoring and advising for: aspiring governors; whole boards; Board Chairs; and CEOs (especially those who work with boards). Support is determined based on a needs assessment for the individual or board/organisation. If interested please email info@ggwapl.nz.
Led by Pacific Governance Experts
Caren Rangi and Mele Wendt are highly respected Pacific leaders with decades of experience in governance, leadership development, and community empowerment. They are also experienced governance facilitators/trainers and in 2020 they started collaborating to share their knowledge and expertise with interested governors/board members.
Together, Caren and Mele bring a wealth of lived experience, deep cultural knowledge, and a passion for growing the next generation of Pacific governors.
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Caren Rangi, ONZM was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2018 for her services to the Pacific community and to governance. In 2021 she won the Pacific Governance Leader Award at the New Zealand Women in Governance Awards.
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Mele Wendt, MNZM was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2019 for her services to governance, the Pacific community and women. In 2022 she won the Not-for-Profit Governance Leader Award at the New Zealand Women in Governance Awards.
What our participants said
From the courses conducted in 2024, participant evaluations showed that:
100%
agreed & strongly agreed that “The topics covered in today’s session are relevant for my governance journey”
99%
agreed & strongly agreed that “Today’s session increased my understanding of what governance practices look like in action”
100%
agreed & strongly agreed that “The facilitators were knowledgeable and encouraging”
99%
agreed & strongly agreed that “I would recommend this training to other people interested in governance”
99%
agreed & strongly agreed that “Today’s session increased my understanding of the fundamentals of good governance”
96%
agreed & strongly agreed that “Today’s session helped me feel more confident to apply for governance roles”
What our alumni are saying
“GGWAPL gave me the knowledge and confidence I needed to step into a board role, but even more importantly, it helped me realise I could lead in a way that stays true to my culture.”
— Alumni, 2023
“The content was easy to follow and facilitators were very knowledgeable and engaging. I was able to bring my understanding of my own cultures into the talanoa. Most importantly, I felt like I got a good understanding of the fundamentals of good governance which I had not been privy to before. Thank you for also sharing real life examples of experiences in Boards.”
— Alumni, Auckland cohort, 2024
“The talanoa sessions were powerful. I learned as much from my peers as I did from the course content. Caren and Mele created such a safe, inspiring space.”
— Alumni
“I just wanted to thank you both for the governance course you held in Timaru last year and I’m happy to announce that I am now the first and newly appointed Pasifika Chairperson for (organisation). The course gave me the confidence to upskill and apply so I wanted to give credit to you both.”
— Alumni, Timaru cohort, 2024
“This course was life-changing. I no longer feel like I have to ‘fit in’—I know I belong in governance spaces, just as I am.”
— Alumni, Wellington cohort
“The way the governance training was presented through a Pacific lens supported our Tokelau spirit that honours our cultural practice of leadership. Practical tools were grounded in cultural examples, making complex governance concepts more relatable. Fakafetai lahi lele Mele ma Caren for the interactive sessions that wove together Pacific traditional practices with modern frameworks, reinforcing our identity and purpose. This experience has not only strengthened individual skills but also revitalised our commitment to serve Tokelau families with culturally-centred governance.”
— Zechariah Reuelu, Wellington 2025
Contact us
Email us: info@ggwapl.nz
Follow us on Facebook: @GGWAPL
To register for a 2025 course, please complete our Registration form below.
If you would like to attend a course but there is no course offered in your area in 2025, please email info@ggwapl.nz.
If interested in contracting us to deliver a GGWAPL course, please email info@ggwapl.nz.