The Hīkoi and Our Own March back to Authenticity
I initially drafted this blog after coming across the “5 stages of awareness” model, which outlines the journey people take from unawareness to readiness for action. At the time, it struck me how this framework mirrors our own paths of growth and self-discovery. But then I witnessed the magnificent hīkoi in Aotearoa New Zealand — a peaceful, collective movement that beautifully exemplifies these stages in action.
The hīkoi, at its heart, is about raising awareness and advocating for meaningful change. It has brought people together at different points in their journey. Many were oblivious to the fact that something was amiss, at stage one: totally unaware. When you've lived all your life in a colonised state, it becomes hard to distinguish between what's authentically right and accepting things as they’ve always been.
Others began in the second stage: symptom-aware, recognising discomfort with the status quo but not knowing there are solutions. Fewer others had already moved to stage three: solution awareness, seeking and exploring ways to address the challenges. The hīkoi itself is a result of those who have moved through stage four: product awareness and to the final stage: most aware, which is where action happens. The hīkoi has also, however, as it traveled from the Far North to the Capital, acted as a catalyst, guiding many from earlier stages of awareness toward clarity and, most importantly, action — not just individually, but as a unified collective.
This collective awakening mirrors the individual journey of growth I often witness as a coach. Whether it’s through addressing blind spots or exploring untapped potential, personal development requires a willingness to lean into discomfort and seek clarity. One of the most powerful frameworks I use in coaching is the Johari Window, created by Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham in 1955.
The Johari Window
Below, we have a depiction of the model and details of each of its quadrants:
Arena: What’s known to both you and others—your visible behaviours, traits, and strengths.
Blind Spot: Traits and patterns others notice about you that you might not yet recognise. These blind spots often hold the key to unlocking growth, as they represent insights we’re too close to see.
Façade/mask: Things you know about yourself but choose not to share with others, often out of fear or discomfort.
Unknown: Untapped or undiscovered aspects of yourself, both to you and others.
Here’s how the Johari Window evolves during a growth journey:
As we intentionally expand the Arena, we achieve three transformative outcomes:
Greater Self-Awareness: Feedback can reveal what we don’t know about ourselves because it’s hidden in the Blind Spot.
Building Trust: Sharing our hidden thoughts and experiences fosters vulnerability and deeper connections.
Improved Communication: This shared discovery process strengthens communication within teams and communities.
Deliberate self-reflection shrinks the Unknown quadrant further, enabling you to step into greater authenticity and alignment. Meditation and prayer are useful tools for this self-reflection, as is coaching.
Back to the Hīkoi and on to the Next Step
Reflecting on the hīkoi, I see parallels in how it asks us to shrink the Blind Spot by listening to perspectives we might not have considered before. It also challenges us to step beyond our Façade, openly engaging in dialogue about the things that matter most. Just as individuals grow through self-awareness, communities grow through collective understanding and trust.
At Next Step Leadership, we guide clients on their own hīkoi toward authenticity, helping them move through these stages of awareness. If this resonates with you, download our free Becoming Unapologetically You workbook here to start your personal journey from unshackling the status quo you may have been trapped in. Let’s take the next step together — toward a life that reflects your true self and values.
