Many benefits in call to Action

It's an idea that's been kicking around in his mind for about a decade, says John Snook.

The former Waiariki Institute of Technology deputy chief executive is talking about the Action Aotearoa professional development workshops he's running at Okere Falls this summer.

"I've thought about it for about 10 years, it's been in incubation," he said. "Going out on my own was a good opportunity to do it."

Mr Snook resigned from the Waiariki role in January and has kept busy since, setting up consultancy Action Group, acting as campaign manager for Steve Chadwick and training for next month's world rafting champs (he's in the masters team). Under the Action Group banner he also has an education arm recruiting international students and does sports management - he's in the process of signing up some Olympic athletes.

"[They are] the themes of my life," he said. "I love being out by myself. It's a bit scary, but life should be a little bit scary."

Speaking of scary, he admits the senior executives who attend the Action Aotearoa two-day/two-night workshops will be pushed outside their comfort zones. According to its website, Action Aotearoa aims to help businesses gain a strategic advantage by "developing an enriched understanding of indigenous New Zealand in the post-settlement era".

That includes a night on the Taheke marae and a pre-course requirement to learn mihi [greeting] and waiata [song].

"As soon as you involve someone else's culture people get a bit uncomfortable, we aim to make them comfortable," he said. "We want to help people walk in both worlds."

Keynote speakers include Sir Mason Durieon the Treaty of Waitangi and public law specialist Mai Chen who will go through legal issues around intellectual property and consultation.

"To get it [consultation] right is important but to get it properly right is something much more powerful," Mr Snook said.

Local speaker Ngahi Bidois will also do a leadership session.

"They are high calibre keynote speakers. [That's] important to the philosophies of the workshop. We wanted the very best, with a local focus."

The other big drawcard was Okere Falls itself, he said. "[There is] an aspect of community development, using local businesses," he said.

Participants will enjoy a private dinner at Okere Falls Store, stay a night at Amora Lake Resort and take part in activities including Pure Cruise and stand up paddling. They will also paddle waka to the Rotoiti hot pools.

The workshops cost $4500 plus GST per person, including everything except travel.

"It's not cheap but none of the philosophies are around being cheap, they're around being the world's best."

Four workshops are scheduled for December, January, February and March - each catering for up to 10 people.

"It's really a summer thing, this is the first of a series of workshops trialling it.

"The market will tell us whether they see value in it or not."

Mr Snook said there had been good feedback from local government and educational institutions and he and business service manager Bailey Tuiomanufili were in discussions with public sector firms, mainly in Wellington and Auckland.

He said participants will go away with action plans and access to online resources.

"I hope it makes them review their entire strategic plans.

"There are considerable assets out there in New Zealand that nobody is taking true advantage of, perhaps they should be. To realise those assets needs more meaningful dialogue, proper understanding around the cultural differences and similarities and the back story about why people have ended up with those assets," he said.

"We are really trying to get people [into] action - for the individual and their business and perhaps onwards for the country as a whole."

For more information see www.actionaotearoa.net.nz.