Agency & Mana Motuhake

Agency can be defined as the capacity of individuals to have the power and resources to fulfil their potential.
Mana motuhake speaks to separate identity, autonomy, self-government, self-determination, independence, sovereignty, and authority – mana through self-determination and control over one’s own destiny.

We often have more control over our lives than we think. It doesn’t matter what your job title is – greatness lies within all of us. And sometimes, the biggest obstacle isn’t the system or the workload – it’s ourselves.

A Moment of Change

One of the reasons I walked away from Xero was because of an extreme workload that led to high levels of stress. Eventually, that stress started affecting my health – I began having intense chest pains that felt like a heart attack.

It was in that moment I had to step back and ask: What do I value? Where do I draw the line?
The pressure was affecting my body, my wairua, and my mood. I thought to myself, “This isn’t sustainable.”

And like many decisions in life, it came down to one simple question: Is it worth it?
I knew the situation wasn’t going to change — so do I tolerate it, or do I choose to be the change?

Learning from Our Tūpuna

That moment of choice reminded me of the courage and determination our tūpuna had when they set out on uncertain waters. Their belief in the reward despite the risk shows us what agency and mana motuhake look like in action.

In life, we need to strive to become the people our tūpuna envisioned. When they navigated from Hawaiki, they didn’t necessarily know there was whenua here. We know of the waka that made it, but there would have been many that didn’t. Still, our tūpuna believed the risk was worth the reward.

To me, that is agency and mana motuhake – backing yourself, even when the outcome is uncertain.

Owning Our Choices

These values show up in our everyday lives too. There was an incident at mahi the other day – not ideal. But we live with the paths we choose, and those choices carry outcomes.

Sometimes things go wrong. What matters is how we respond.

That’s where our agency and mana motuhake come in — not just in choosing, but in owning the outcome. It’s not about blame, it’s about growth.

"It takes courage to ask for help. It takes mana to ask for support."

Your Response Is Your Power

This comes back to the circle of control – how we choose to respond. That is your mana motuhake.
Your response can sometimes define you — but you also have the power to redefine it. That’s where your true power lies.

We all make mistakes – trust me, I could write a book on the number of mistakes I’ve made (and still make). I own them – the good and the bad.

If something isn’t working for you, start by making small changes.
And if it feels too hard, reach out. You’d be surprised who’s standing beside you, cheering you on.

To me, that’s what mana motuhake really is – having the courage to say: “Actually, I want to do better.”

And in doing so, we honour the bravery of those who came before us – and shape the path for those who come next.