Te Reo Karanga o Matangireia - The sacred call of leadership: Wahine Maori perspectives of leadership in early childhood education and the denial of the sacred Karanga of leadership by the persistence of colonisation in mainstream early childhood services in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This doctoral research presents the perspectives of Wahine Maori who are leaders in mainstream early childhood services in Aotearoa New Zealand. In particular, this research study serves to advance the aspirations and capacity of Maori leaders in early childhood education. The study delves into discussions of early childhood educational leadership that highlight representation, social justice, equity, and racism and the forms of knowledge that inform leadership theory and practice within early childhood education.