About —
Henare Hona O'Brien
I am Māori and Pākehā. All Kiwi….
It was once seen as a deficit—by myself and others—but I have turned it into my greatest asset.
Now, I embrace both sides of my identity and find meaning in connecting with people across different backgrounds, from one end of the spectrum to the other, and everyone in between. That, along with two decades of experience in education, leadership training, and working with individuals, teams, and organisations, is my passion.
I’m known for using my creative gifts to take a practical look at people as the key factor for change. I have helped people improve their performance in communication, decision-making, and leadership by seeing communication not just as words coming out of a person’s mouth, but as a direct part of their unique process—one that may be stalling or stopping them from performing at increasingly higher levels.
Is this hard at times? Yes. But is it rewarding when worked through? Absolutely.
As the developer of a form of generative learning, I have created a discovery-based framework that drives change, allowing participants to expand their perspectives, make better decisions, and take action—without having to "learn" anything in the traditional sense.
Generative training workshops and coaching sessions have been used by audiences across many countries, helping them face, navigate, and work through challenges to foster greater understanding and action in their personal and professional lives.
Henare’s Journey
My journey has been shaped by a rich blend of cultural experiences.
Growing up as an urban Māori in the 70s, 80s, and 90s—while looking white as a Pākehā—I’ve known the pain of living in a low-economic community, as well as, at times, not feeling fully part of it due to my white complexion.
I know what it's like to be a minority within a minority community, which is why I’ve always been drawn to helping others.
I have a deep appreciation for the importance of bridging divides.
Recently, I returned from overseas. My wife, children, and I spent a decade living in Indonesia, which further expanded my understanding of cultural diversity and its impact on communication, performance, and leadership.
Earlier in life, my struggle with fitting in extended to education, which is why I pursued and earned a Bachelor of Education—to prove to myself that I could succeed.
After that, I traveled like a sage, searching for practical trainings across the world to hone my skills as an educator. Over the past two decades, I have developed a generative toolkit for working with people from all walks of life, addressing a wide range of interpersonal challenges.
My work is driven by a deep passion for helping others grow.
Whether coaching individuals one-on-one or facilitating group trainings, my approach often brings about change in emerging and generative ways.
I help teams and leaders overcome challenges, unlock potential, and bridge divides that restrict performance, leadership, and communication.
