Where The Café Meets The Hui in Aotearoa (New Zealand)
by Roslie Capper

In Aotearoa New Zealand, regional and national gatherings of Maori indigenous groups are focusing on Treaty claims and the creation of a sustainable future for New Zealand. Café gatherings, designed by Maori leaders in collaboration with the World Café Partnership honor the traditional "hui" Maori meeting approaches, complimented with the warmth, hospitality, and familiarity of a Café environment for knowledge sharing and collaborative conversations.

Maori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand), known as tangata whenua: 'people of the land.' Gatherings of Maori on tribal meeting grounds are called 'hui'. They include traditional rituals of greeting, beginning, ending, and ways of being. Speakers are not interrupted, ancestry and legends are acknowledged and Elders have a special place.

An organisation decided to create a gathering to increase knowledge, networking and agreement among diverse groups claiming back forests under our 150 year old Treaty. The groups were at various stages of the claims process. The Minister of Justice, key Government decision maker was also present.

I was invited to assist in designing a Café approach which honored traditional "hui" protocols.

A Café design to me means: 'Hosted conversations with an agreed stated purpose or set of core questions which are important to the life of that organization or community. I further believe that hosting people beautifully in ways which support meaningful conversation is the highest service we can offer.

Elements we included in our Café Hui Conversations

* A stated purpose.
* An agreed design likely to enable diverse participants to engage in the conversations they most need to achieve their stated purpose and their important questions.
* Clarity about participant input to process and outcomes of the conversations.
* Tables for approx 6 people with water, pens, notebooks, stones, flowers.
* Service: serving food and coffee/water/ to the tables instead of outside the room.
* Working with whatever emerged: physical, emotional, spiritual, conflict, calls to action, or as in our case, an agreed presentation to the Minister.
* Conversation around Café tables is so everyday familiar that participants are encouraged to be themselves.

 

The main contribution I offered through the World Café Partnership

* Advised on the best size diameter of the tables!
* Faith in the Café process and the design team.
* Facilitation of the design team before during and after the event.
* Service to the whole during the event: no overt leadership.

Key parts of the above Café Hui for 400+ people included:

* Calling the people who were to organise the event a 'design team'. A new term in New Zealand, this focused people on 'design' as a different piece than 'organise.'
* Framing the Café Hui with a proverb (chosen by an Elder) enabled people of all ages and stages to connect with the purpose and begin the design.

* Designing and enabling people to gather around questions and information important to communities led to people creating their future.
* The leader of the (tribal) Café venue was a member of the design team.
* Diversity: diverse views and voices in the Café process were welcomed. In the Maori world the young people are coming forward very fast, while Elders hold an important role. This meshes well in a Café Hui process.
* Design team members assisting in mapping the possible as no one is an expert on Café conversations.

We chose the following Maori proverb to provide context for the Café Hui:

Abu atu te mata ki te ao marama kei kono nga reanga e utanga.

This translates as:

"Clear away the obstacles so you may see the path forward... turn your face to the world of light. The generations yet unborn are waiting there for you"

How did we mesh the Café with the Hui?

* Participants were greeted and spoke in ritual ways on a prestigious and famous meeting ground. The importance of the gathering was acknowledged.

* Songs were sung, speeches of ancient land issues made and food was served.

* We then moved to nearby land recently handed back to a tribe by the Crown through the Treaty claims process. The next three days were held in a large marquee (tent) set up as a Café'.

* Panels of experts on the claims process were convened, and conversations among claimant groups around tables occurred throughout. As the conversations evolved over the three days, people had the opportunity for "seeding" multiple conversations in which important knowledge and insight was shared among members of the community.

* The purpose was to progress Maori Treaty claims. The process was to hear diverse views, network with those who knew more, gain knowledge from a 'shopping mall' of stalls staffed by experienced claims people, and to consider next steps.

* Strong feelings had a place as did changes in process in response to the evolving needs of the gathering.

What are the next steps?

* The Café Hui process looks likely to emerge in many regions, gradually creating the future of each as the wider community is invited to join in the evolving national Café conversations.

* There is an intention that what has begun will lead to an agreed vision of Partnership between our peoples (Maori and non-Maori) at a Café Hui at the end of this year.

Rosile Capper lives and works in New Zealand