Māori & Pasifika at The Treasury - Te Tai Ōhanga
Our vision is lifting living standards for all New Zealanders.
We safeguard New Zealand's finances and are the Government's trusted economic advisor. We partner with others to navigate the big challenges and opportunities for New Zealand.
Important kaupapa include The Living Standards Framework and He Ara Waiora (a Māori perspective on wellbeing framework in our policy advice). This prompts us to ask questions at each stage of the policy cycle to help understand the impacts that a policy proposal may have on intergenerational wellbeing for different communities, including Māori and Pasifika.
This means we consider outcomes beyond just financial measurement.
Te Ao Māori Strategy and Policy Team
We have a Te Ao Māori Strategy and Policy team because of the importance the Treasury places on providing a Te Ao Māori perspective in lifting living standards for all New Zealanders.
They help out across the business on key policy projects. This enables Te Ao Māori insights to be embedded into key work and nurtures tikanga and te reo Māori within Te Tai Ōhanga.
Some of their recent mahi includes applying and embedding He Ara Waiora in two of the Treasury's levers of greatest influence:
- Budget 2022
- Public finance system modernisation
We also work with Ngā Pūkenga, an external group of Te Ao Māori leaders who walk alongside us in exercising stewardship over He Ara Waiora.
Pacific Strategy - Le Tofa Mamao ma le Fa'autautaga
Le Tofa Mamao ma le Fa'autautaga reinforces our commitment to engaging with and listening to Pacific peoples. It recognises the importance to our Pacific population of them meeting their economic and social aspirations centred on families and communities.
This mahi adds value to our policy advice, our organisational responsiveness to diversity and inclusion, and in our thinking about what matters and what works for Pacific peoples.
Whāinga Amorangi
Our Whāinga Amorangi plan strengthens our culture by building individual and organisational Māori capability and supports the Public Sector shared goal of true Māori/Crown partnership.
Our teams and individuals are supported to discuss and set goals for building their capability. We have a Māori capability framework and an annual capability survey so our kaimahi can track and measure their progress, from Developing: Kākano, Practising: Tauira, and Expert: Kaiārahi. We provide fantastic development opportunities to assist our staff in building their individual & teams Māori Capability.
Ngā Mokopuna a Tāne.
Our Wharenui, ‘Ngā Mokopuna a Tāne’ is Te Manawa (The heart) of Te Tai Ōhanga and our tūrangawaewae. It connects us to each other, and to the Treasury’s past, present and future. It reminds us of our role at the centre of the economy, leading and serving people across the four directions of Aotearoa.
The Wharenui is used for formal occasions where our new kaimahi (staff) get to experience their pōhiri (formal welcome), it is also used for team hui, yoga, and is a great place to take some time out in a quiet place to sit in and enjoy.
The taonga (treasures) in the Wharenui represent many of the traditional Māori designs used throughout New Zealand. We have chosen to include into our work environment these traditional designs in our meeting spaces The poupou extends through all levels of the building to bind & reconnect us to Ngā Mokopuna a Tāne.
Te Puna Aronui
We have a network of kaimahi called Te Puna Aronui who work across the Treasury to provide and build capability in Te Ao Māori and Pacific perspectives.
The network takes its name from the stories and knowledge depicted in our wharenui, Ngā Mokopuna a Tāne.
Tāne is an Atua (deity) of great importance in Te Ao Māori – among his many feats he brought back the three kete wānanga (baskets of knowledge) from Te Toi-o-ngā-rangi The twelve heavens). One of the baskets brought back by Tāne is Te Kete Aronui, which has been interpreted as representing practical knowledge, or the knowledge that humans currently seek.
'Puna' means a wellspring or pool, but also links to the word 'mokopuna' (grandchild), which signifies the importance of an intergenerational perspective in the Treasury's work.
Te Puna Wai
Te Puna Wai are a source of waiata and wairua within Te Tai Ōhanga. They meet every fortnight to sing and support ELT and the wharenui at pōwhiri for new staff and visitors.
Te Puna Wai lead and uphold the mana and tikanga inside the Treasury. The roopū is made up of people from many different ethnicities and nationalities and have a mind-set of tātou!
Other social events and community activities
We recognise important days for Māori and Pasifika across the year, including articles and events for Waitangi Day, Matariki, Māori language week and Pasifika language weeks. We have rainbow, women’s and sustainability employee networks and language clubs you can join. We support anyone wanting to establish new employee networks too. We have sport and social clubs and events and annual rugby, cricket, and netball matches against other public sector agencies.
