In a significant step towards strengthening Indigenous leadership and cross-cultural collaboration, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), in partnership with the Government of New Zealand and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), hosted the send-off ceremony and pre-departure briefing for the I-LEAD Māori Learning Exchange (LE). The event marked the start of a week-long learning engagement between a Philippine delegation and the Māori people of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Held in the Philippines, the send-off was graced by notable guests including Her Excellency Dr. Catherine McIntosh, Ambassador of New Zealand to the Philippines; Dr. Selva Ramachandran, UNDP Resident Representative; Hon. Jesus “Gary” Domingo, former Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand and Undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); NCIP Chairperson Jennifer Pia Sibug-Las; and NCIP Commissioner Marie Grace T. Pascua, Ethnographic Commissioner for CAR and Region I.
The delegation, composed of Indigenous women leaders from Regions XI and XII, NCIP officials, other key national government agency representatives, and UNDP, embarked on the Māori Learning Exchange in New Zealand from May 12 to 19, 2025. This exchange is part of the I-LEAD Project (Indigenous Women and Girls: Leadership and Empowerment in Ancestral Domains), a collaborative initiative aimed at fostering inclusive development, gender equality, resilience-building, and economic opportunities for Indigenous women and girls in Mindanao.
The Māori Learning Exchange serves as a platform for mutual learning on ancestral domain governance, economic development, and sustainable practices. It aims to draw insights from the Māori experience, particularly on institutional frameworks, fund management, private sector engagement, and collaboration with local government units.
On May 14, the Philippine delegation, led by NCIP Chairperson Sibug-Las, visited New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Affairs (MFAT). During the visit, the Chairperson presented the NCIP’s mandate and its ongoing programs. The exchange continued with presentations by representatives of various New Zealand government agencies, who shared the history and journey of the Māori people—including their enduring relationship with the British Crown, the Treaty of Waitangi, and the revival and protection of the Māori language.
Government offices such as the Ministry of Māori Development and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment discussed their integrated strategies and programs in support of Māori development. These engagements provided the Philippine delegation with valuable lessons on how Indigenous Peoples’ rights can be promoted through inclusive policies and collaborative governance.
The exchange highlighted the value of global Indigenous cooperation and the importance of institutional support in empowering Indigenous communities. It also opened opportunities for formal partnerships between Philippine Indigenous institutions and Māori-led agencies, aiming to uplift Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) through culturally grounded and globally informed approaches.