Transforming HRM Aotearoa

The transformational learning journey of Transforming HRM Aotearoa has been an integral part of HRNZ’s Professional Development offering since June 2021. Human Resources magazine finds out more about its continued success.

Aroha ki te tangata, ahakoa ko wai, ahakoa nō whea

Take care of all people, irrespective of who they are, where they come from, the culture they were born of and the role they play as part of our collective

HRNZ recognises that Aotearoa New Zealand is a unique country with unique cultural influences. It acknowledges the kaupapa of transformational change and culture and is committed to developing HR practices that ensure the success of Māori within those workplaces. This includes embedding an ao Māori context into workplaces and taking practical action to give effect to te Tiriti o Waitangi. HRNZ encourages HR leaders to enact ūara (values) and mātāpono (behaviour): manakitanga, rangatiratanga, to be pono (true, honest, genuine), tika and not afraid to show aroha (love) and advocacy for themselves and others for the good of the collective.

As Nick McKissack, Chief Executive of HRNZ, states, “If we don’t reflect this in our HR practice, we risk creating systemic bias that disadvantages particular groups in the workplace. If we’re honest, that’s the situation we’re currently faced with. Māori aren’t succeeding as well in New Zealand workplaces as they should be.”

Course content

The three-day programme seeks to allow HR practitioners to develop their HR practice to benefit Māori employees directly and intentionally. It recognises Māori as Tāngata Whenua o Aotearoa and te Tiriti o Waitangi partners within our uniqueness of being a country that is proudly bicultural. The programme and follow-up projects aim to facilitate the development of culturally responsive and equitable HRM practices that aim to improve the employee experience for Māori in the workforce and create space for mana to flourish.

As a kaupapa-Māori-led programme, it is delivered through a wānanga Māori approach and facilitated by whānau.

HRNZ has been fortunate to have Chartered HRNZ Member Karli Te Aotonga who has created this professional development programme for business leaders and HR experts. Karli is a Māori HR and OD people leader, practitioner and researcher. Karli has sought the support of her cousin Bentham Ohia, a leader within his community with extensive experience in tertiary education and research throughout Māori and indigenous networks.

Participants are also joined by Karli’s koro (grandfather) Timi. As a kaumatua (elder), his presence allows participants to experience what is a normal intergenerational contribution and adds a deep and enriching experience to the programme providing the leadership and cultural safety for participants.

Day one focuses on the local context that business and HR should weave through their approach to their organisation when they are operating anywhere throughout Aotearoa: the mana whenua (local people with authority over the land in which the organisation resides). It also focuses on tikanga, and its role within a business context, and cultural safety and wellbeing.

Day two continues to build theoretical knowledge and thought leadership concepts through Māori HR and leadership research, at the same time as deepening the development of HR cultural practice through the employee lifecycle.

Day three starts to reimagine and re-architect the future of HRM in Aotearoa and what the building blocks would be to develop a truly bicultural HR practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. The group identifies practical HR solutions that can lift the cultural capability of its people, its leadership and governance and shift its system through culture change and organisational development. It also reinforces the importance of whakapapa, which is nurtured throughout the wānanga, no matter where in the world you are from.

What participants said after the course

This was an amazing gift of learning. I feel a lot more aware and understanding of the values. I was constantly thinking about how I can further incorporate them in my practice and within the conversations I have with leaders who shape our organisation. I would like to give thanks to Karli, in particular, and Bentham and Koro Timi; the understanding that they shared was amazing and I will take that with me for the rest of my life (plus career). I believe that transforming HRM Aotearoa is not only value for money but that I would recommend this course for others and am highly likely to attend HRNZ courses again following this in the near future.

NICK SANDFORD

“I would recommend this wānanga to all HR professionals and even those who are in leadership or management roles. Karli and Bentham bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the HRM space, and collectively they have created a wānanga that provides a safe and open space for non-Māori and Māori to kōrero and share their experiences and challenges as HR leaders. This wānanga provides context and insight into how embracing Te Ao Māori, Tikanga Māori frameworks and applying a Māori-led approach within your organisation and HR practice, not only benefits Māori employees but all employees across all industries.

WINSOME KENNEDY

The workshop provides a good litmus test as to where you and your organisation are at in terms of developing solutions for better work practices and outcomes. Karli, Bentham and Pā Timi created a safe space to discuss and share wisdom and reflections, pragmatic approaches and many tools and resources. Other attendees were open, approachable and shared a wealth of experiences around implementing initiatives, and I learnt a lot from them collectively. I felt that the workshop provided opportunities for me to understand how we as an organisation, and as a HR professional can continue to enhance service offerings in an authentically Māori way.

MARCELLA WILLIAMS

Putting it into practice

As with attending any workshop, the challenge is what you do with what you have learnt: how do you take back the feeling and inspiration to your organisation and make a difference?

Post-wānanga, participants are given a wero (challenge) to implement their personal commitment agreement project within a nominated workplace project or activity. An online wānanga is held to share key learnings, insights and reflections. Upon completing this online wānanga, participants are awarded HRNZ certificates of completion and can register their Continued Professional Development through the HRNZ online portal.

The March 2023 cohort now has monthly catch-ups, where participants are able to network and discuss how they are implementing what they have learnt.

By creating a safe space, through whakawhanaungatanga, waiata and karakia, the participants and facilitators can build connections and share experiences and learnings. This wānanga is about the ‘we’dentity of an organisation and its people, and creating a movement within our institutions that we support across Aotearoa. Karli’s technical and contemporary HR leadership expertise, Bentham’s vast leadership and educational experience, and koro Timi’s cultural leadership make for a perfect combination.

As Nick says, “for me, this programme is about much more than just developing cultural competence. This is about fundamental change to HR practices and producing qualitatively different outcomes for Māori in our workplaces.”