Rearea is another name for the korimako - or New Zealand bellbird. It is a small green bird considered to have one of the most beautiful cries of all the birds of Aotearoa.

Ōhanga means nest. It also describes a place of growing (like a kōhanga or nursery). It has also been used as a translation for economy.

Ōhanga Rearea therefore means the nest of the rearea. It also refers to the economy of the rearea - in this instance, the miro, kahikatea, nest, and its eggs.

Ōhanga Rearea was provided by Connor McLeod of Rangitāne o Wairau.

Our framework is for anybody working to create a more equitable, and inclusive organisational culture.
We believe that the knowledge and information derived from our communities, should be freely available to benefit our communities. And as Ōhanga Rearea was a co-designed framework, it is and will always be a freely available resource available to the people of Aotearoa and beyond.

As a living document however, the Ōhanga Rearea framework will continue to be updated and refined by us, and so we ask that as it is applied that we are named as its developers so that anybody can reach out to us for any updates, resources, or further support.

Our framework can help you enact change in a meaningful way for takatāpui and rainbow people. Whether you’re just beginning your journey and are seeking initial feedback, are after more structure in your approach, or are hoping to help others in their journey, Ōhanga Rearea can help you employ an indigenous-centred approach to your strategic and operational work.

To get involved is simple: start by reading and learning about the framework, consider the journey of the rearea and our five key areas of development.

Next, complete our various exercises to categorise and benchmark your previous, current, and potential initiatives. Pay careful attention to the gaps that appear during this process - for the rearea cannot take flight on an empty stomach.

Finally, grow and develop your group or organisation according to the key areas you have self-identified for development, and incorporate these into your strategic and operational planning alongside your people.

This all takes time, and it is okay to move at a pace that best suits you and your needs. But move we must, and we are here to help you however we can.

There are a broad range of services available in Aotearoa for organisations on their takatāpui and rainbow inclusion journey. From accreditation programmes and charitable organisations to various resources, we are very proud to work alongside such a broad variety of advocates that truly do incredible work.

The needs of takatāpui and rainbow people are diverse and complex however, and no single individual within an organisation should be responsible for carrying the weight of their community’s aspirations alone. This situation is far too common - and often results in burnout, tokenism, and unstable progress for organisations.

What makes the Ōhanga Rearea Framework different is its ability recognise the impacts of a wide range of takatāpui and rainbow inclusion initiatives, categorise them, and review them by order of priority. Further, Ōhanga Rearea centers Te Tiriti and tangata takatāpui in its approach, working smoothly with organisations committed to its Māori.

Ōhanga Rearea is a tool to structure takatāpui and rainbow inclusion, and works in tandem with all other equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives at your organisation.

Various groups and organisations are using some version of the Ōhanga Rearea Framework. Initially developed in part for Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington, the first iteration of this framework was the result of a consultation project with the University’s takatāpui and rainbow student and staff communities in 2017.

Over the years however, the framework has morphed and grown - changing into something more ambitious and applicable to a broader range of contexts. Versions of Ōhanga Rearea are being used by organisations such as Wellington City Council, Massey University, and various rainbow advisory groups.

This framework has very intentionally been designed from a takatāpui and rainbow perspective. While it may have broader applications and be useful in diverse equity and inclusion settings, we’d encourage rigorous consultation before applying Ōhanga Rearea to different contexts.