Kia ora koutou, Mālō e lelei, Talofa lava, Taloha ni, Kia orana, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Namaste, Ni sa bula and warm Pacific greetings.

 

Welcome to the RTLB Aotearoa website. This pae tukutuku is designed by Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) for RTLB, to connect and engage RTLB across Aotearoa, promoting innovative and effective practice.  This is your space and place, we want you to feel at home here and we are always keen to hear from you. ​​​

 

Positionality Statement

As members of the RTLB Aotearoa rōpū, we acknowledge our position as tauiwi and tangata Tiriti living and working in Aotearoa New Zealand. We hold deep respect for tangata whenua and recognise our shared responsibility to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi in meaningful and ongoing ways. Our network includes RTLB of diverse backgrounds, including those of Māori and Pacific heritage, and we are committed to fostering culturally sustaining and inclusive practice across all aspects of our mahi.

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We acknowledge that our identities, both individually and collectively, are shaped by our whakapapa, our lived experiences, and our relationships with this whenua and its people. As professionals working within the education system, we are aware of the complexities of supporting ākonga Māori and Pacific learners in ways that are not only inclusive, but also affirming and grounded in culturally sustainable practice.

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Our work is increasingly shaped and enriched by Te Ao Māori—a worldview that recognises the interconnectedness of all living things, the significance of place, and the importance of collective wellbeing. We are guided by the principles and wisdom of mātauranga Māori, which offers holistic ways of knowing, being, and doing that centre relationships, whakapapa and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge. These understandings help us to more deeply connect with Māori learners, whānau and communities in authentic and mana-enhancing ways.

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We are guided by the work of Māori and Pasifika academics, educators and communities who have laid the foundation for more equitable and culturally sustaining approaches in education. In honouring their legacy, we are committed to ensuring that te reo Māori is visible, valued and prioritised across our work—while also recognising and uplifting the reo, values, and identities of our Pacific communities.

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We recognise that Indigenous languages carry ancestral wisdom, identity and a deep sense of belonging. Rather than viewing te reo Māori and Pacific languages as being in competition for space or recognition, we uphold a relational approach that honours the interconnectedness of our peoples, our languages and our shared futures. Through the intentional use of language in our communications, resources and professional learning spaces, we strive to embody respectful relationships with tangata whenua and to centre practices that enhance mana. 

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As the RTLB Aotearoa rōpū, we also acknowledge that we are on a learning journey ourselves. We do not claim to have all the answers, nor are we experts in every cultural context. What we do bring is a collective commitment to growing our cultural capability, reflecting on our practices, and being responsive to the diverse communities we serve. We view this learning as ongoing, relational, and grounded in humility. 

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We commit to:

• Embedding te reo Māori authentically throughout our work to reflect our responsibility to this whenua and its first peoples.

• Creating space for Pacific languages to be seen and heard, recognising their power in affirming identity and belonging.

• Upholding culturally sustaining practices that are grounded in whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, and reciprocal partnership.

• Honouring Te Ao Māori and integrating mātauranga Māori as central to our approaches, recognising the depth and relevance of Indigenous knowledge in educational practice.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​