Top of Mind

FROM THE HRNZ CHIEF EXECUTIVE

This edition of the Human Resources magazine is dedicated to the topic of developing a bicultural approach to HR practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.

It’s a stream of work that HRNZ embarked on at the beginning of 2021 when we introduced a new professional development course entitled ‘Transforming HRM in Aotearoa’. This course, led by now Board member Karli Te Aotonga, is designed to create a collective movement around the incorporation of Māori cultural values into our practice of HR.

Many New Zealand organisations are interested in taking this journey. We’ve seen great examples of initiatives being taken in the submissions we’ve seen for our newly introduced Mana Tāngata Awards.

HRNZ is committed to supporting its members with this mahi and aims to provide tools, resources and case studies that can educate and inform. In this edition of the magazine, you’ll find an explanation of the framework we’ve developed to guide our work in this area. The framework itself can be used by any organisation when thinking about its own path to greater biculturalism in the workplace.

What we know is that these days you can’t rely on looking over the fence and adopting someone else’s best practice approach. We all have to take our own journey and be guided by appropriate principles to arrive at a bespoke solution that works for us and our people. What we also know is that it’s the quality of the journey and the way in which relationships are valued that ultimately affect the outcomes that are achieved. Of course, this is true of any organisational development initiative.

HRNZ is keen to see a greater representation of Māori in the HR profession. This will be critical to the evolution of HR practice in Aotearoa. We’ve been fortunate to have the support of Te Puni Kōkiri throughout our journey to date, enabling us to offer sponsored placements on the Transforming HRM in Aotearoa programme. Employment is a key theme for Te Puni Kōkiri, as set out in its strategic intentions for 2020–24 – He Takunetanga Rautaki. This includes a goal of “Influencing partner agencies to maintain labour market attachment and get more Māori into higher skilled jobs”.

HR professionals can be key enablers in achieving this goal within their respective organisations.

We hope this edition of the magazine provides inspiration for our members that supports their journey towards achieving more equitable outcomes for Māori in the workplace and better realising the potential of their Māori workforce.

Nick McKissack Chief Executive HRNZ Nick.McKissack@hrnz.org.nz