How else could an employer demonstrate their commitment to te ao Māori? What could they do in relation to this to make you want to work for them?
This was another one of the questions our partner company Whakahui asked in a recent survey of Māori professionals. This is what they had to say:
- Champion the use of te reo Māori and tikanga across the organisation. Have leaders leading by example in their use of it
- Have te reo Māori and tikanga professional development plans and classes available for all employees?
- Offer learning and development activities focused on mātauranga Māori, pūrākau and Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- Have a regular practice of karakia, waiata and panui sharing?
- Make te ao Māori worldviews an everyday experience, so people embrace the culture and are not afraid of it
- Demonstrate Māori values throughout the organisation?- in particular, manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, kotahitanga.?
- Māori represented in leadership positions and at all levels of the organisation
- Have effective strategies for recruiting and retaining kaimahi Māori?
- Non-Māori leadership that demonstrate their commitment to te ao Māori.
- Recognise te ao Māori capability, value it and reward people for it?
- Recognise and respect the culture and its significance to New Zealand.?
- Be committed to improving outcomes for Māori?
- Have leaders who can articulate the organisations commitment to Māori, why it is important and inspire others
- Have strategies and plans to grow the organisation’s cultural competence?
- Provide ongoing cultural support, networks and supervision?
- Flexible work practices, responsive to individual and whanau needs?
- Be honest about where the organisation is at in its te ao Māori journey and show the willingness to learn and grow?
- Ensure the environment has te ao Māori elements within the workplace e.g. art, meal/work spaces that enable korero, sharing and collaboration?
- Understand that everyone is at a different stage of their own journey.
Other suggestions from the Ahu Jobs and Whakahui team:
- Have a regular and structured way of collecting kaimahi Māori engagement and work satisfaction feedback?
- Have a well-resourced early in career programme (work experience, internship, graduate programme) focused on rangatahi providing well supported entry level opportunities into the organisation
- If kaimahi Māori are contributing to cultural activities beyond the scope of their ‘day job', ensure their workload is reduced accordingly and that they are recognised and rewarded for this contribution?
- Have regular professional development sessions with Māori leaders and experts presenting?
- Offer more flexible working – design roles so they are open to part-time, job share, remote working and working from home.?
We hope that these, and the previous insights and recommendations we have shared from the survey will help organisations to gain a better understanding of the needs and expectations of Māori talent. We also hope that they take up the challenge of adapting their processes to meet these.?
At Ahu Jobs, our vision is to grow Māori prosperity and wellbeing by connecting Māori to greater opportunity. We look forward to sharing further insights and recommendations in support of this vision.
Ngā mihi nui to everyone who shared their whakaaro on this Kaupapa.?
Mā te whititahi, ka whakatutuki ai ngā pūmanawa ā tāngata | Together, weaving the realisation of potential?
