Blog

<h3>Transform your end-of-year celebration with a Marae Christmas - a cultural experience that builds authentic team connection and meaning.</h3><p>As the year draws to a close, many organisations begin planning the familiar Christmas function - a catered lunch, a few speeches, and perhaps a gift exchange before everyone rushes into the holidays. It’s pleasant, predictable, and quickly forgotten.</p><p>But what if the end of the year could be more than a social event? What if it could strengthen relationships, uplift morale, and reconnect people with purpose?</p><p>A Marae Christmas offers exactly that. Designed by Wolfgramm Holdings, this experience replaces the ordinary with the meaningful. It combines story, waiata, and shared kai within the living, breathing context of a marae - a place where culture, connection, and community meet.</p><p>On the marae, celebration is not entertainment; it’s acknowledgement. It’s an opportunity for teams to reflect on their collective journey, honour one another, and express gratitude. Through laughter, storytelling, and the warmth of shared food, people are reminded of what truly matters - whanaungatanga, the relationships that sustain us.</p><p>In te ao Māori, celebration and gratitude are inseparable. They embody manaakitanga (care and hospitality) and kotahitanga (unity), values that build trust and belonging across diverse workplaces. A Marae Christmas brings those values to life, allowing organisations to celebrate success in a way that is inclusive, grounded, and deeply human.</p><p>The feedback we receive from teams who attend is always the same - they leave more connected than when they arrived. Barriers dissolve. Hierarchies soften. People discover one another not through job titles, but through shared experience. It’s a powerful reminder that workplace culture is not built by policy, but by people.</p><p>Culture gives context to success. When organisations weave cultural celebration into their end-of-year gatherings, they’re doing more than recognising results - they’re reinforcing identity and belonging.</p><p>So this year, consider replacing the predictable with the purposeful. A Marae Christmas offers teams a chance to close the year with meaning, to reflect on achievements, and to strengthen the relationships that will carry them into the new one.</p><p>To learn how a Marae Christmas Experience can transform your end-of-year celebration, contact<a data-mce-href="mailto:%20info@wgholdings.co.nz" href="mailto:%20info@wgholdings.co.nz"> info@wgholdings.co.nz</a> or visit <a data-mce-href="https://www.wgholdings.co.nz/" href="https://www.wgholdings.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.wgholdings.co.nz</a>.</p><p>Because the best way to celebrate people is through culture and the best way to build culture is together.</p>

Marae Christmas: How Cultural Celebration Strengthens Workplace Connection

<h3>Discover how marae-based learning builds true workplace inclusion, cultural safety, and leadership growth in New Zealand organisations.</h3><p>Inclusion has become a familiar word in strategy documents and diversity policies across New Zealand workplaces. But genuine inclusion cannot be achieved through policy alone - it must be lived through experience.</p><p>That’s why marae-based learning is becoming one of the most powerful ways to strengthen workplace culture. On the marae, hierarchy softens. Language shifts. People reconnect as human beings first. It is an environment that encourages openness, humility, and respect - values that modern leadership depends on.</p><p>Through pōwhiri, kōrero, and shared kai, teams learn how to listen before they speak and to collaborate through relationship rather than instruction. The lessons are not theoretical; they are embodied. This is where inclusion stops being an abstract concept and becomes a lived experience.</p><p>At Wolfgramm Holdings, our Te Uru Tāngata&nbsp;Immersive Marae Day was designed precisely for this purpose. It’s not about observing culture from the outside - it’s about stepping inside it. Participants experience tikanga (customs) and kawa (protocols) in a way that connects head, heart, and hands. They begin to see that every person carries identity, story, and potential that deserve to be recognised.</p><p>What happens on the marae cannot be replicated in a classroom or boardroom. The experience is emotional, relational, and deeply human. Leaders come to understand that cultural capability is not an optional skill - it is leadership itself. When people feel culturally safe, they contribute more confidently, innovate more freely, and build stronger, more trusting relationships.</p><p>For organisations committed to inclusion, the next step is to move beyond awareness training. Tick-box exercises may raise understanding, but they rarely build belonging. Belonging is cultivated through shared experience - through being present, participating, and learning together.</p><p>On the marae, everyone has a place. It is here that people rediscover connection - to each other, to purpose, and to the land beneath their feet. The impact extends long after the day ends, shaping how teams communicate, collaborate, and care for one another.</p><p>For leaders wanting to create workplaces where inclusion is felt, not just written, the journey begins on the marae.</p><p>To learn more about how the Te Uru Tāngata&nbsp;Immersive Marae Day transforms leadership and team culture, contact <a data-mce-href="https://www.wgholdings.co.nz/" href="https://www.wgholdings.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.wgholdings.co.nz</a> or email <a data-mce-href="mailto:%20info@wgholdings.co.nz" href="mailto:%20info@wgholdings.co.nz">info@wgholdings.co.nz</a>.</p>

Marae-Based Inclusion Training: Bridging Culture and Commerce in Aotearoa

<p>Make AI training your top priority for 2026. Learn how AI boosts productivity, saves time, and keeps you competitive in the age of ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot – includes free AI Readiness Checklist.</p><h2>The World Won’t Wait for AI</h2><p>AI is moving fast – and so are your competitors. From content generation to automation, AI is changing how business is done in every sector.<br>The question is no longer “should we use AI?” but “how fast can we train our people to use it well?”</p><h2>Why 2026 Matters</h2><p>2026 will be the year that AI becomes standard in New Zealand workplaces. Businesses that start training now will lead – those that don’t will struggle to catch up.<br>AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot are already saving hours per week for teams that know how to prompt, automate, and analyse with confidence.</p><h2>From Fear to Fluency</h2><p>Our AI training programmes transform hesitation into hands-on confidence. Participants learn:</p><ul><li>How to automate everyday tasks without losing the human touch.</li><li>How to protect data and ethically use AI under Te Mana Raraunga principles.</li><li>How to apply Māori values like mana and aroha to tech-driven decision making.</li><li>How to measure ROI using Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Return on Ad Spend (ROAS).</li></ul><h2>Download Your AI Readiness Checklist</h2><p>To help you start, we’ve created a free AI Readiness Checklist for business owners and leaders.</p><p>It covers the five foundations of AI success: <strong>People, Processes, Platforms, Protection, and Purpose.</strong></p><p>Download it at wgholdings.co.nz/ai-readiness or through our training portal at training.wgholdings.co.nz.</p><h2>Make AI training your 2026 resolution</h2><p>Join our next workshop series and start building an AI-ready team today.<br>Because when you grow better people, you grow a better business.</p>

Why AI Training Should Be Your 2026 Business Resolution

<p>Discover how kaupapa Māori and tikanga are guiding a new approach to AI ethics, automation, and leadership in Aotearoa – and why the future of technology must be built with aroha.</p><h2>The Digital Future Needs a Cultural Compass</h2><p>Wolfgramm Holdings believes Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept – it’s already shaping how we work, learn, and connect. </p><p>But as algorithms become decision-makers, a simple truth emerges: technology without values leads nowhere good.</p><p><strong>That’s where AI with Aroha begins.</strong></p><p>In my opinion and in a digital context, Aroha means more than love – it means care, respect, and responsibility. When Māori values such as manaakitanga (caring for people), kotahitanga (unity), and whanaungatanga (relationships) guide AI development, we create systems that serve humanity, not replace it.</p><h2>What AI with Aroha Looks Like</h2><p>At Wolfgramm Holdings, we’re exploring how kaupapa Māori principles can shape AI design and training:</p><ul><li><strong>Manaakitanga:</strong> designing AI to support people, not displace them.</li><li><strong>Kaitiakitanga:</strong> protecting data so communities retain control of their stories.</li><li><strong>Kotahitanga:</strong> ensuring collaboration between tech leaders, Māori organisations, and AI developers.</li><li><strong>Wairuatanga:</strong> embedding wellbeing, balance, and humanity into automation systems.</li></ul><p>These aren’t buzzwords – they’re blueprints for ethical AI.</p><h2>Why Businesses Need Culturally Led AI Training</h2><p>For New Zealand businesses, the AI shift isn’t about replacing people – it’s about growing better people.</p><p>Our AI workshops educate organisations how to integrate AI technology to become operationally efficient while maintaining mana and mauri (spirit) in the workplace.</p><p>Leaders who understand both AI and aroha create a tangible ROI for there organisation and their people by embedding culture, innovation and trust – where humans and machines work together for good.</p><h2>Ready to learn AI with Aroha?</h2><p>Explore our upcoming workshops and cultural AI training sessions at <a data-mce-href="https://www.wgholdings.co.nz/services" href="https://www.wgholdings.co.nz/services">wgholdings.co.nz</a> or register via <a data-mce-href="training.wgholdings.co.nz" href="training.wgholdings.co.nz">training.wgholdings.co.nz</a>.</p><p>Let’s grow better people for a digital future built on aroha.</p>

AI with Aroha – How Māori Values Are Shaping the Future of Artificial Intelligence

<h3>Plan Your 2026 Training: Māori Engagement, Wellbeing &amp; Treaty Workshops</h3><p>The most effective organisations don’t leave cultural training to chance. They plan for it - building it into their leadership calendar, budgeting for it in advance, and signalling to staff and stakeholders that cultural capability is a priority.</p><p>With 2026 fast approaching, now is the time for boards, HR leaders, and managers to secure their place in the Wolfgramm Holdings training calendar.</p><h3>Why Plan Ahead?</h3><p>Cultural capability is not a one-off workshop. It’s a sustained investment that shapes how organisations connect, lead, and grow. </p><p>Planning early ensures:</p><ul><li>Guaranteed places in high-demand workshops.</li><li>Alignment with business goals such as wellbeing, inclusion, and leadership development.</li><li>Cost efficiency by securing early pricing and combining training pathways.</li><li>Clear reporting for boards and executives who need to demonstrate action on Treaty and inclusion commitments.</li></ul><h3>Training Streams Available in 2026</h3><p>Wolfgramm Holdings delivers across three key areas:</p><p><strong>Māori Engagement Workshops</strong></p><ul><li>Whakawhanaungatanga &amp; hui protocols</li><li>Pōwhiri &amp; whakatau readiness</li><li>Marae-based leadership experiences</li></ul><p><strong>Wellbeing &amp; Leadership Workshops</strong></p><ul><li>Indigenous wellbeing models for HR leaders</li><li>Burnout prevention through relational investment</li><li>Building resilience through cultural connection<br></li></ul><p><strong>Te Tiriti and The Integrity of Water Workshops</strong></p><ul><li>Treaty foundations for boards and executives</li><li>Applied Treaty governance for leaders</li><li>Specialist sessions on integrity of water, procurement, and partnership<br></li></ul><h3>The 2026 Training Calendar</h3><p>Our 2026 calendar includes quarterly public sessions and tailored in-house workshops for organisations that want a customised approach. Whether you’re looking to upskill your executive team or embed cultural learning across departments, we can map a pathway that fits your goals.</p><p>👉 [Download the 2026 Training Calendar here] (PDF)<br>👉 [Book your organisation’s place now]</p><h3>A Long-Term Investment in People</h3><p>Training is not just about compliance. It’s about growing better people—leaders who are culturally capable, organisations that are resilient, and workplaces where staff feel they belong.</p><p>By planning your 2026 training today, you’re not just filling a calendar slot. You’re committing to a future of inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership grounded in Te Ao Māori.</p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Contact us</strong> at<a data-mce-href="mailto:%20info@wgholdings.co.nz" href="mailto:%20info@wgholdings.co.nz"> info@wgholdings.co.nz</a> to secure your place in the 2026 training calendar.</p>

Plan Your 2026 Training: Māori Engagement, Wellbeing & Treaty Workshops

<h3>Why Boards Need Te Tiriti Training Before 2027</h3><p>Governance in Aotearoa New Zealand is changing. Boards are expected to show not only financial stewardship but also cultural integrity, social accountability, and a clear understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.</p><p>For directors, this is no longer optional. By 2027, Treaty literacy will be an essential part of governance practice - expected by regulators, investors, employees, and communities alike. Boards that act early will be positioned as leaders. Boards that delay risk being left behind.</p><h3>The Governance Imperative</h3><p>Every decision a board makes - whether in procurement, partnerships, or community engagement - is shaped by context. In Aotearoa, that context includes Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Without competence in this area, boards risk blind spots that can lead to reputational harm, strained relationships, or missed opportunities.</p><h3>Why 2027 Is the Tipping Point</h3><p>Several forces are converging:</p><ul><li><strong>Legislation and regulation </strong>– Policy settings are increasingly embedding Treaty obligations into governance frameworks.<br><br></li><li><strong>Investor and market pressure</strong> – ESG reporting now looks at cultural and social accountability alongside financial results.<br><br></li><li><strong>Public expectation</strong> – Employees, customers, and communities want to see boards demonstrating genuine partnership, not just rhetoric.</li></ul><p>By 2027, boards that lack Treaty training will be exposed to risk.</p><h3>What Te Tiriti Training Offers Boards</h3><ol><li><strong>Clarity </strong>– A grounded understanding of Treaty principles and their governance relevance.<br><br></li><li><strong>Confidence </strong>– The ability to engage on cultural issues without hesitation.<br><br></li><li><strong>Connection </strong>– Authentic, values-based relationships with iwi, hapū, and Māori stakeholders.<br><br></li><li><strong>Capability </strong>– Governance strategies that align both business performance and cultural responsibility.</li></ol><h3>From Compliance to Leadership</h3><p>Te Tiriti training is not about ticking a box. It’s about shaping resilient governance that stands up to scrutiny and builds trust. Boards that invest now will not only reduce risk but also unlock opportunities for growth, innovation, and stronger community partnerships.</p><h3>A Call to Action for Directors</h3><p>If you serve on a board, the question is no longer if you need Te Tiriti training, but when. Waiting until 2027 is too late.</p><p>At Wolfgramm Holdings, we deliver tailored governance training that equips directors with the tools, context, and confidence to lead responsibly.</p><p>👉 Download our free guide: “Cultural Training Options for 2025.”<br>👉 Contact us at <a data-mce-href="mailto:info@wgholdings.co.nz" href="mailto:info@wgholdings.co.nz">info@wgholdings.co.nz</a> to book a governance briefing.</p>

Blog

Marae Christmas: How Cultural Celebration Strengthens Wor...

Marae-Based Inclusion Training: Bridging Culture and Comm...

Why AI Training Should Be Your 2026 Business Resolution

AI with Aroha – How Māori Values Are Shaping the Future o...

Plan Your 2026 Training: Māori Engagement, Wellbeing & Tr...

Why Boards Need Te Tiriti Training Before 2027