Building Cultural Capability

This mahi acknowledges the importance of tangata whenua and Te Ao Māori. It appreciates the criticality of understanding the importance and success of inclusive community movements like Whānau ora.

It also recognises that Aotearoa is a nation of increasing cultural diversity where complex inequalities exist. It acknowledges that the Kaiāwhina workforce, through their work with whānau and communities, can assist to increase equitable health outcomes.

Listen and learn from Te Ao Māori; lead by example

• Māori are members of the Taskforce guiding and supporting the Plan’s progress
• Māori kaiāwhina voices are actively sought
• Seek input from Māori and Iwi when developing services, roles and competencies
• Leading by example, Taskforce members demonstrate a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, communications and interactions encourage increased application of tikanga and Te Reo.

Lift cultural confidence and competence

• Encourage Māori designed training honouring Te Ao Māori and mātauranga Māori that achieves increased Kaiāwhina confidence in supporting Tangata Whenua
• Increase workforce awareness and confidence for working with peoples of diverse cultures
• Share successful initiatives, collective practices, stories and resources.

Contribute to achieving equitable outcomes

• Identify and action initiatives to understand, reduce and prevent institutional racism and unconscious bias. Actions could include:
• learning from Kaupapa Māori, Pacific and Asian organisations;
• identify resources that grow understanding about shared Māori and Pacific values.
• working with other Government agencies to increase scale and reach;
• providing understanding and tools to assist Kaiāwhina to have an appropriate role in preventing and intervening when they experience situations leading to inequitable outcomes; and learning directly from Kaiāwhina and sharing their initiatives.