ABOUT PETER
PETER MAKARA
- BE UNCOMMON
High-Performance Coach, Leadership Practitioner.
Founder of Be Uncommon.
New Zealand's first certified Unbeatable Mind coach
I partner with senior leaders, business owners, athletes and people carrying responsibility in business, sport and life who want to operate with clarity, composure and decisive action under pressure.
My work is grounded in more than 20 years of senior leadership experience across education, health, utilities, governance, high performance sport, not-for-profit organisations and the military. These are environments where people are tested, culture matters and capability determines outcomes.
I have served as a director and trustee across not-for-profit and purpose-led organisations, including those supported by volunteer workforces.
Being Māori shapes how I think, lead and serve. My values of whānau, respect, authenticity, empathy, courage and humility guide every relationship I build. I bring a steady, relational presence and a genuine commitment to strengthening the people and organisations I work alongside.
The Be Uncommon Approach
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High performance is built through clear purpose, values-aligned action, and the ability to stretch beyond comfort zones into the uncommon.
At the centre of Be Uncommon is a simple Framework: regulate → focus → act → perform.
This is what I coach and apply in the moment. The wider Be Uncommon Performance Cycle — prepare → regulate → focus → act → perform → recover → adapt — is how high performance is built, sustained and improved over time
Be Uncommon reflects my lived, learned and applied high-performance approach. It integrates:
Whole-person development — physical, mental, emotional, relational and spiritual (connection) capacity
Performance psychology and flow science — focus, presence and flow
Values-based leadership — clarity, alignment and integrity in action
Māori-informed ways of knowing and relating — whakapapa, connection, responsibility and relational practice
Military principles — discipline, front sight focus and composure
High-performance sport methods — purpose, mindset, habits and resilience
This approach strengthens how people regulate, focus, act and perform in complex, high-pressure environments.
Whether working with a senior leader, business owner, athlete, board or organisation, the aim is the same: build capability, remove doubt through action, and perform when it matters most.
Why Be Uncommon
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Be Uncommon exists to help people carrying responsibility in business, sport and life operate with clarity, energy, composure, capability and purpose.
Growth is disciplined, values-led and earned over time.
When people and organisations align action with values, build strong habits and develop the capacity to perform under pressure, they create lasting, authentic change.
Whether you are leading others, growing a business, competing, serving a mission or wanting more from how you live, lead and perform, Be Uncommon helps you act with intention, integrity and positive impact.
Our Brand: Twin Mangōpare
The Be Uncommon logo is centred on the twin Mangōpare, a traditional Māori symbol representing strength, agility, leadership, resilience, and determination. The dual forms symbolise partnership and balance, the relational foundation of high performance.
The circular form reflects interconnection and harmony, acknowledging that genuine performance requires integration of mind, body, and spirit.
Three koru extend into the circle, representing the pillars of the Be Uncommon whole-person model:
Tinana — body
Hinengaro — mind and emotions
Wairua — spirit and connection
The brush-stroke aesthetic gives the symbol a grounded, human quality, a reminder that excellence is both disciplined and deeply personal.
Peter Makara is also the originator of Te Koru o te Mauri and the open-source Human Enhanced Performance Framework. github.com/MakaraNZ
Be the best version of you
Let's explore what matters now, what needs to shift, and whether working together is the right fit.