From the editor

The Human Resources magazine’s theme for this issue is Diversity: let’s make more progress. Many of us have witnessed line managers not recruiting perfectly qualified individuals because of their ethnicity, names, accents, skin colour, sexual orientation and lack of local experience, to name a few. These perfectly qualified candidates who are being unfairly discriminated against should be given the same opportunity as everyone else.

Research shows that, despite Aotearoa New Zealand having very strong employment data in quarter 4 2022, Māori unemployment remains high (6.9 per cent) compared with New Zealand Europeans (2.6 per cent). While many factors are likely to explain this, it could indicate not having a safe workplace and culturally appropriate policies and practices in the workplace. Let’s work harder to create a more inclusive future of work.

Pockets of success are emerging. With the transformation of HR practice in Aotearoa, we are starting to see workplaces that enhance the quality of life and wellbeing for all people. Humanising our work environment, whether that’s for Māori or non-Māori, has to be a good thing.

This issue has a case study on Education Perfect, which introduced a programme of helping non-nativespeaking members of the team. It has been celebrated at HRNZ’s recent HR

Awards, taking out the Diversity Award. We also interviewed Simon Fanshawe OBE about his take on diversity. Professor Jarrod Haar shares his recent paper on perceived discrimination of Māori and Pacific employees. And Sarah Baddeley from MartinJenkins takes a closer look at trust and disinformation in the workplace.

Now, more than ever, is a time to celebrate our people. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata! And if you want to find out even more on the topic of diversity and share ideas with your fellow HR professionals, join our next HRNZ Virtual Summit on 20 July 2023: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Where to from here?

Kathy.Catton@hrnz.org.nz

Kathy Catton

Managing Editor