May 08, 2024
Public servants eye iwi option
A trustee of a network of Māori public servants says there’s widespread anxiety in Wellington as state sector jobs for Māori are cut.
Te Rau Hihiri is holding a webinar today giving members a chance to talk online with senior public servants including Te Arawhiti head Lil Anderson, Paula Rawiri from Te Puni Kokiri and Public Service Association kaihautu Māori Janice Panoho.
Elena Higgison says more than 400 people have registered for the event.
She says laid off public servants report they can’t even get shortlisted for vacancies, and some are trying to get jobs across the Tasman, or with iwi and non-government organisations.
“We’re hearing more and more movement and forward thinking happening in the iwi space so might that be an opportunity perhaps for some who can and are able to hoki atu ki to whenua and to perhaps work alongside iwi organisations that of course have such progressive agendas for our people,” Ms Higginson says.
Te Rau Hihiri is also organising a conference, He Maori Ahau at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 26.