Te Ao Māori, Treaty, and Māori Crown Relationships (Developing)

Knowledge and understanding needed to incorporate
Te Ao Māori, the Treaty of Waitangi, and Māori Crown
relationships in policy making.

• Understanding Te Ao Māori (Māori world view) perspectives and how they differ
  from non-Māori world views.
• Learning about Aotearoa New Zealand history relevant to the policy work.
• Understanding the role of te Tiriti o Waitangi, Treaty settlements and related legislation, and Māori Crown relationships in the work of the agency and sector.
• Learning about tikanga and how to use te reo Māori.

70% on-the-job learning

Foundations – Tikanga and Te Ao Māori

• Learn about the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi set out in He Tirohanga o Kawa ki te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Become familiar with expressions of Māori values and principles (e.g. in He Ara Waiora – the Treasury’s Māori Wellbeing Framework).
• Learn about the rohe (territory or boundaries) and population of iwi in New Zealand, using Te Kāhui Māngai (Directory of Iwi and Māori Organisations).

Applications – The Treaty in policy and law

• Learn about the key policy tools or analytical and kaupapa Māori-based frameworks used in your agency and how to apply these.
• Read the Treaty of Waitangi analysis material in the Policy Project’s Policy Methods Toolbox, which includes the Cabinet Office circular Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi Guidance (developed by Te Arawhiti – The Office for Māori Crown Relations) on how to apply the terms and concepts of the Treaty to policy development and implementation. 
• Learn about Te Arawhiti – the Office of Māori Crown Relations’ resources including the Engagement Framework and Guidelines on the Māori Crown Relations' Engagement page.
• Understand the Māori rights and interests, and Treaty principles relevant to your policy area, through a review of relevant Waitangi Tribunal and Court cases, and previous agency responses to Treaty issues.
• Read a range of Waitangi Tribunal reports, especially those relevant to your policy area.
• Familiarise yourself with Public Service Act 2020 provisions relating to the role of the Crown as Treaty partner under te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Context – History and the Māori Crown relationship

• Read key documents with commentary on the Māori Crown relationship, such as the Waitangi Tribunal’s report Ko Aotearoa Tēnei, Puao Te Ata Tu: The Report of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on a Māori Perspective for the Department of Social Welfare (June 1986), and the Summary of submissions from the Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti 2018 engagement process.
• Learn about Treaty settlement commitments through Te Haeata (the historical settlements commitments portal), particularly those commitments your agency is responsible for.
• Learn about the history of your agency’s business, key decisions that have been made, and what impact these have had on Māori and Māori Crown relations.
• Review your agencies’ Māori strategies and Treaty statements, if these exist. 

20% learning from others

• If possible, accompany your manager or senior colleagues to meetings with iwi or other Māori groups.
• Identify the implications of the Treaty of Waitangi principles for a policy option you’re involved in and get feedback from a colleague.
• Find opportunities to spend time with people who may be affected by your policy area, including Māori and iwi organisations.
• Ask colleagues about how they consider Te Ao Māori and matāuranga Māori in their policy work.
• Talk with your colleagues about the Crown’s Treaty of Waitangi obligations and agency examples of engagement and collaboration with Māori groups.

10% formal training

• Take a course on the Treaty of Waitangi and cultural perspectives in policy making.
• Take a course on New Zealand history and the history of the Māori Crown relationship.
• Attend training on Te Ao Māori relevant to your subject area (e.g. Victoria University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning offers tailored courses on Māori Crown Relations).
• Take tikanga and te reo Māori training to build your ability to communicate in te reo Māori.