The West Auckland Māori Thought Leadership Collective (WAMTLC) evolved from a hapori of practice that was originally established by Vikki Ham (formally of Healthy Families Waitākere) for kaimahi Māori and hapori leaders from both Māori and non-Māori organisations. The goal was to convene and identify collective kaupapa to support West Auckland Māori hapori with their hauora.

With the arrival of COVID 19, the group identified the need to move to an online platform. Kaimahi Māori and hapori leaders needed a collective platform:

• to share updates;

• to identify what services, support and resources were needed;

• to respond to the immediate needs of our whānau Māori and hapori.

During this time, kaimahi Māori and hapori leaders were taken through a collective impact process to identify and agree on key kaupapa (initiatives). These were intended to support our hapori Māori through the pandemic and associated ongoing concerns. More recently, the collective has secured funding to commission a Māori COVID-19 Impact Report, underpinned by a strong focus on prevention as well as health and wellbeing. 

The overall purpose of the Māori Thought Leadership Collective is to collectively drive kaupapa for collective impact, and resource our West Auckland hapori Māori through the impacts of COVID and into the future. The collective have identified six areas of focus, and continue to meet regularly to work toward these goals.

The collective has been co-convened by Aroha Te Namu (Kaiwhakawhanake Hapori of Community Waitākere) since 2022. There are currently 82 members within the West Auckland Māori Thought Leadership Committee, representing 59 organisations and 4 Iwi/Mana Whenua.