Our Story

Kaharawa was established in 2021 by Michael (Harley) Thompson. The overall purpose of Kaharawa is to give expression to the building of meaningful relationships through Kaupapa Māori.

The company was named Kaharawa which means to utilise the strength of higher spiritual powers.

Harley is a registered social worker, educator and youth work expert with 35 years experience in the social service sector. He reflected on how his practice impacted social services, kura kaupapa Māori, mainstream secondary schools, community and some government agencies. It showed that the KAHA whanaungatanga model could be implanted and used in various settings.

The KAHA whanaungatanga model was registered and given Te Hā the breath to bring it to life.

This model has been heavily influenced by Harley’s village upbringing at Maraeroa Marae with his parents and kaumātua.

KAHA Whanaungatanga Model

The model consists of three distinctive themes:

  1. Kaupapa Māori principles

  2. Engagement

  3. Te Hā (the breath of life)

Kaupapa Māori

principles

The KAHA whanaungatanga model is founded on:

  • Whanaungatanga - Quality relationships

  • Wairuatanga - Spirituality

  • Āhurutanga - provision of a safe environment

  • Kaitiakitanga - Nurturing leadership

    All four occur concurrently and therefore can be experienced simultaneously.

Engagement

Engagement follows a prescribed sequence using the acronym KAHA:

  • Koha - to give without expectation of receipt,

  • Aha - He aha te take? - what's wrong, what’s right?

  • Hōhā - Frustration, anger, anxiety and stress are normal

  • Aroha - Support that is given with love.

In its simplest form KAHA can be described as courage and resilience – elements needed to activate transformational change.

Te Hā

The acronym KAHA is made up of words that all end with suffix HĀ - kaha, aha, hōhā and aroha. Te Hā in te reo Māori is translated as the breath of life.

Harley believes the KAHA model can also be utilised as a framework for:

  • Assessment

  • Evaluation

  • Governance

  • Human Resource

  • Management

  • Peer Review

  • Practice

  • Praxis

  • Professional Supervision

  • Public Policy

  • Self Reflection

  • Social Policy

  • Team Building

  • Theory

The KAHA model is a kaupapa Māori and mana-enhancing process universally applicable to any environment where relationships are important.

Kaharawa promotes its business as indigenous and Māori.