In an interview with Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden on TVNZs Q&A show; it became apparent that some had forgotten to tell the Minister from her own Government Department that a targeted Maori initiative hadn’t been “paused”.
Māori are disproportionately affected by work-related deaths in New Zealand, experiencing a higher rate of fatalities and serious injuries compared to non-Māori workers. WorkSafe New Zealand reports that Māori workers experience a 31% higher rate of serious injury at work across all industries and sectors nationally. According to Worksafe “The refreshed WorkSafe strategy defines the wider health and safety at work system (te aronga matua) and reflects our role in the system (kawa), how we will undertake that role (tikanga), where we will focus our effort (kaupapa), and how we will measure our impact (mātauranga).”
According to the Chair, Jennifer Kerr; ” Every year 50–60 people are killed at work and 400–500 hospitalised with a serious work-related injury (acute harm), and an estimated 750-900 people die because of work-related ill health (chronic harm). While these awful figures have steadily reduced over time, there is a long way to go and much work to do by everyone who can influence health and safety in our workplaces.”
WorkSafe New Zealand’s Māori strategies aim to address the disproportionately high rates of workplace injury and death experienced by Māori workers, with a focus on reducing the equity gap and enhancing WorkSafe’s capacity to work with Māori communities. This includes incorporating Te Ao Māori principles, building leadership capabilities, and fostering meaningful partnerships with Iwi and community groups.
The Maruiti strategy within WorkSafe aims to reduce the disproportionately high rates of workplace injury among Māori by 2027 and improve WorkSafe’s capability in working with Māori communities. This is achieved through partnerships with iwi, communities, businesses, and government agencies, and by weaving Te Ao Māori into WorkSafe’s processes and services. “My understanding from Worksafe is that they’re not going down that path anymore” The Minister said when asked. It turns out it was “news” to the Minister.
More to come
