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November 29, 2022
Survey finds hunger for cultural competency
Adam Gifford
Posted On November 29, 2022
A new survey has found New Zealanders struggle to understand how they can apply te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in the workplace – but there’s an appetite for change, especially among younger people.
The nationwide survey of almost 5000 people in 30 organisations was done by organisational consultancy AskYourTeam, in partnership with the Māori Language Commission, Te Puni Kōkiri, Stats NZ, the Health Promotion Agency and Maurea Consulting.
Cultural advisor Conrad Waitoa says cultural competency is about not just te reo Maori but how we understand the treaty, how we incorporate tikanga, how and when we engage with Māori groups, and how we embrace equality and minimise racism at work.
He says 86 percent of 18 to 25-year-olds surveyed saw cultural capability as a priority, while senior leaders were less likely to see things like learning te reo Māori as a worthwhile skill.
Only 44 percent of New Zealanders surveyed felt they could explain how the treaty impacts their work.
Just two in five employees felt confident in their ability to explain Māori concepts, and only a third of New Zealanders could adequately describe key historical moments and how they impact both Māori and Pākehā.
The survey is now available for any workplace to measure its own cultural competency.
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