Niho Taniwha
Niho Taniwha is a framework for place-based and systems-learning developed from working with Whānau, Hapori (communities) and other partners across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Niho Taniwha draws respectfully from Mātauranga Māori to encourage a culturally grounded and values-led set of practices that weave learning and evaluative practice through processes of change, innovation and implementation.
Niho Taniwha is a framework designed to bridge the gap between ‘on-the-ground’ learning with Whānau and Hapori, and the systems that influence investment and decision-making. Niho Taniwha integrates Mātauranga Māori and Indigenous perspectives with Western knowledge, creating a responsive and adaptable framework that supports diverse contexts and Kaupapa.
Niho Taniwha is centered around three key Pou:
Systems change
Outcomes for Whānau
Strategic learning
Developed alongside Whānau and Hapori in Aotearoa, this approach aims to shift public sector commissioning, policy, and capability towards a more bottom-up, place-based way of working.
Nau mai ki te kaupapa o Niho Taniwha!
We invite you to explore Niho Taniwha using the resources below.
Introduction
The Story of Niho Taniwha.
Inside this document you will find:
The journey and Whakapapa of Niho Taniwha
The Mātauranga that grounds its key elements (Te Whāriki, Wāhi Ako)
Core aspects of the framework and practice
Mini Case Studies of Niho Taniwha applied
Baseline practices to guide authentic use
A 4-page printable summary of the key elements of Niho Taniwha is also available for download.
Overview
Nau mai ki Te Tirohanga Whakawhānui o Niho Taniwha
This slide deck provides an overview of Niho Taniwha in presentation form, including its purpose, key elements and essential baseline practices.
Practice Guide
Nau mai ki Ngā Utauta Mātauranga o Niho Taniwha
This Practice Guide offers a range of tools and activities to support teams in applying the Niho Taniwha framework within their Mahi.
Tools are mapped against Te Whāriki, Wāhi Ako and across the framework as a whole. Some tools include activity templates which can be downloaded below.
Pānuitia | Read
Written Resources
Case Studies
Report
This document provides four ‘mini’ case studies as examples of the ways Niho Taniwha has been put into practice in different contexts.
This case study shares how Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora used Niho Taniwha as a learning system to support the redesign of the Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO) service. WCTO is one of the country’s few universal services - reaching 90% of children under five - meaning even small improvements can lead to significant gains in equity, whānau experience, and long-term social and economic outcomes.
This is the first in a series of case studies sharing how the Niho Taniwha framework is being used across Aotearoa. Additional case studies will be published soon.
Kia Tipu Te Ao Mārama
This paper, written in 2021, shares the journey and role of Te Korekoreka and Niho Taniwha, evaluative frameworks that underpin the learning environments within Tokona te Raki (an indigenous social innovation arm of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu) and The Southern Initiative (a social innovation initiative within Auckland Council, based in the south and west of Tāmaki Makaurau).
Mātakihia | Watch
Visual Resources
Practice Foundations
Presenters: Angie Tangaere, Eruini Hawke & Riki-Lee Saua
In this Practice Foundations session, The Lab shares the key dimensions and practices of Niho Taniwha and examples of how it has been applied.
Foundations of Niho Taniwha
Presenters: Angie Tangaere, Eruini Hawke & Penny Hagen
The Auckland Co-Design Lab speaks about the foundations of Niho Taniwha.
This recording is from the 2026 Niho Taniwha Symposium.
He Kupenga Horopounamu
Presenters: Tammy Potini, Makere Ihakara & Roimata Taniwha-Paoo
Te Waka Kerewai (Māori Outcomes team from Auckland Council) share their experiences engaging Hautū Wakaand Niho Taniwha within their flagship programme - He Kupenga Horopounamu.
This recording is from the 2026 Niho Taniwha Symposium.
Foundations of Niho Taniwha
Presenters: Tanya Radford, Emily Welch & Connie Field
The Early Years Team at the National Public Health Service talks about Te Whāriki, an essential part of Niho Taniwha that holds a firm foundation for the practice.
This recording is from the 2026 Niho Taniwha Symposium.
Ongoing learning opportunities
Register here to stay updated on future Niho Taniwha learning activities.