The Mana Tangata Emerging Māori HR Award and the Māori HR Leader Award shine a spotlight on individuals and organisations that have successfully embedded Māori cultural values and tikanga into their HRM practices.
These nominees have made a lasting impact by advocating for their kaimahi Māori and strengthening cultural awareness within their workplaces. Their leadership is creating more inclusive, mana-enhancing workplaces across Aotearoa.
Te Kaunihera o Te Hiku o Te Ika (Far North District Council) developed the TPoU Te Ao Māori Framework to enhance inclusivity and responsiveness to Te Ao Māori across its operations. Approved unanimously in 2023, TPoU bridges the gap between staff competency and iwi and hapū mātauranga through strategic policies, learning opportunities, and cultural integration. Key initiatives include a Te Reo and Tikanga course with 74 staff participants, bilingual signage, and a KPI-linked staff appraisal system. Progress is tracked via a dashboard, and its impact extends to strategic council plans, embedding a Te Tiriti-centric, Tikanga-led HR approach.
Kacey Graham has been instrumental in embedding Te Ao Māori into Powerco, a leading electricity and gas distributor, through the development of its Leadership Development Programme (LDP). Grounded in Māori cultural values, the LDP has transformed leadership at Powerco, with 100% of participants reporting increased leadership capability and understanding of Tikanga, and 73% securing new leadership roles or expanded responsibilities. The programme also drove key organisational changes, including recruitment policy reviews and unconscious bias training. Its success helped Powerco become a finalist in the Deloitte Top 200 awards for Diversity and Inclusion in Leadership.
Coastguard Tautiaki Moana is New Zealand’s primary maritime search and rescue organisation, powered by over 2,000 dedicated volunteers across 63 units nationwide. Operating 100 rescue vessels and two air patrol units, Coastguard responds to emergencies on the ocean, lakes, and rivers, ensuring boaties get home safely. In addition to rescue operations, they provide boating education and advocate for water safety through community outreach and awareness campaigns. Working closely with Police and RCCNZ, Coastguard plays a vital role in protecting lives on the water.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (TWoA) launched its Kaupapa Māori EVP Strategy in 2022 to attract and retain skilled kaimahi in a competitive job market. Grounded in Māori values, the strategy addressed high turnover, recognition concerns, and alignment with organisational values. Key initiatives included a new HR service model, tailored salary increases (with kaiako receiving an average 6% raise), and an internal Talent Acquisition team that halved recruitment time from 90 to 45 days. The impact has been significant—kaiako turnover dropped from 8.26% to 2.89%, engagement scores rose from 73% to 81%, and more employees now access learning opportunities, strengthening TWoA’s position as an employer of choice.
Southern Cross Healthcare has embedded Māori cultural values and tikanga into its operations to create a more inclusive and culturally responsive workplace. A 2022 survey highlighted the need for improved Māori cultural competency, leading to initiatives such as in-person tikanga workshops, Te Kaa cultural training for leadership, and the ĪAko Māori e-learning programme. Key impacts include the establishment of a national Hauora Māori Committee, hospital-based Māori health committees, and a Kaimahi Māori Cultural Support Service to enhance patient care. Increased Te Reo Māori use, karakia in hui, and culturally tailored recruitment practices have driven a significant shift in workplace culture.
Kacey Graham, Leadership and Capability Manager at Powerco, has won the inaugural Emerging Māori HR Award for fostering a psychologically safe space and empowering emerging leaders, as Kaitiaki of tikanga and te ao Māori capability at Powerco. She developed Powerco’s Leadership Development Programme, integrating te whare tapa whā principles in collaboration with Māori leaders and organisational experts. The transformative programme enhances emotional intelligence, self-leadership, and cultural competency.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has won the Leader Māori HR Award for its innovative Kaupapa Māori Employee Value Proposition (EVP), which seamlessly integrates Māori cultural values into HR practices. This approach has boosted employee engagement from 73% to 81% and reduced turnover from 8.26% to 2.89%. By prioritising personal growth and cultural inclusivity, TWoA has created a supportive environment that attracts and retains skilled kaimahi, positioning the organisation as a leader in fostering a culturally rich workplace.
Launched in 2023, Tau Mai is a te ao Māori recruitment consultancy. Our deep understanding of te ao Māori enables us to communicate with familiarity and interact with authenticity to find talent who are the right fit for your organisation.
We stay true to our kaupapa as a Māori-led agency, maintaining our shared cultural integrity. We are led by your tikanga to go on a journey through te ao Māori to recruit and support Māori talent, that is mana-enhancing for all parties.
We have and make connections through whakapapa, our networks and the quality of our mahi/work. Our cultural competency and experience in the recruitment business allows us to effectively build respectful and trusted connections with Māori jobseekers.
In partnership with Tribe Recruitment Group, we leverage technology offering a breadth of services to ensure a thorough and well supported search to bring Māori talent to you.
We work with Iwi, Public, Private and NGO organisations across the Motu.
Nau mai. Tau Mai!
Russell Spratt
General Manager, Wellington | Kaiwhakahaere Matua, Poneke
Co-Founder, Tau Mai | Te Kaitūhura, Tau Mai
Orissa Plimmer
Recruitment Consultant
Kaitohutohu Whakawhiwhi Kaimahi
Tarah Ah-Kiau
Office Coordinator
Kairuruku Tari
