People
Māori have the skills and knowledge to lead, and succeed, at all stages of their careers.
On this page
Summary
Outcomes
- Equitable participation and achievement in education
- Equitable access to, and participation in, sustainable, quality work for all Māori
- EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori
Immediate actions
- Work with Māori to embed a tikanga-Māori-based framework into employment policy, and develop tools to implement the framework
- Explore the changes needed for the EET system to be effective and equitable for Māori
- Improve education outcomes for Māori learners, by implementing and reporting on the actions in 'Ka hikitia – Ka hāpaitia'
- Improve education provided on mātauranga Māori and te reo Māori
Other actions the Government is taking to achieve these outcomes
- Funding employment-support services that are designed and delivered by Māori for Māori
- Implementing 'Ka hikitia – Ka hāpaitia'
- Implementing 'Tau mai te reo'
- Investing in, strengthening and growing MME and kaupapa Māori education
- Strengthening the sense of belonging and engagement in education
- Developing and implementing initiatives that raise the Māori cultural capability of education providers, careers advisors, navigators and mentors
How this focus area supports Te Tiriti
The people focus area is concerned with how EET systems support Māori to achieve equitable outcomes and receive services that are tailored to their needs and aspirations. It supports these Tiriti principles:
- Rangatiratanga
- Equity
- Active protection
- Options
- Partnership
Te Ara Mahi Māori hui feedback
“Education plants the seed [for rangatahi].”
“Part of an employment service’s ‘effectiveness’ is the extent to which it addresses the complex and connected landscape below a singular symptomatic issue.”
“[Māori should know that] they can be successful as Māori. Stand tall, be Māori. Be courageous.”
What else the Government is doing
- Strengthening partnerships with hapū, iwi and Māori to support Māori aspirations. This includes regional relationships and formal partnerships established through the Treaty Settlement process (such as Te Hiku o Te Ika Social Wellbeing and Development Accord, and Ngāi Tūhoe Service Management Plan) (MSD).
- Strengthening partnerships with industries and employers, including through Skills for Industry and the Construction Sector Accord (MSD).
- Continuing to build by Māori for Māori approaches (such as the Māori Trades and Training Fund and Paiheretia Te Muka Tāngata) (MSD).
- Exploring ways to promote a collaborative and more relationship-based approach to commissioning, through the Social Sector Commissioning work programme (MSD).
- Convening a regional rangatahi Māori leaders forum, as part of 'Youth plan 2020–2022' (Ministry of Youth Development and TPK).
- Strengthening foundation education to improve pathways into higher education and employment (MoE and TEC).
- Making changes through RoVE and the Ōritetanga Learner Success approach to achieve equity for Māori, and increase their rates of participation, retention and completion (TEC).
- Understanding Māori learners’ needs and aspirations, through the Ōritetanga Learner Success approach; and supporting tertiary education organisations to redesign their business practices, putting learners at the centre (TEC).
- Implementing the 'Tertiary Education Strategy' priorities, including embedding tikanga Māori and reducing barriers to learners (TEC).
- Engaging with iwi and Māori entities on the design of the online career planning solution (TEC).
- Using Connected.govt.nz to map government employment services available to Māori and making this information publicly available (MSD).
- Enabling regional offices to lead government relationships with local communities, to design and develop initiatives that work for Māori. This includes employing regional Māori relationship managers (MSD).
- Funding employment-support services that are designed and delivered by Māori providers and are more focused on Māori (such as He Poutama Rangatahi, He Poutama Taitamariki, and Rākau Rangatira) (MSD).
- Progressing the Future Services Model under MSD’s Te Pae Tata Māori Strategy and Action Plan, which aims to deliver better outcomes for New Zealanders. This work includes working in partnership with Māori communities to develop effective programmes for people and whānau (MSD).
- Delivering Taiohi Ararau – Passport to Life. This initiative supports rangatahi Māori (aged 15–24 years) on their path to training and employment, by helping them get essential documents like a driver licence and IRD number (TPK).
- Testing out innovative approaches to re-engage rangatahi Māori (aged 15-24) who are NEET or are at risk of becoming NEET through the time-limited Pae Aronui programme (TPK).
- Embedding 'Ka hikitia – ka hāpaitia' into the education system. This strategy sets out how the education system honours and gives effect to Te Tiriti and supports Māori–Crown relationships. It sets out the Government and education sector aspirations for shifts that will support Māori learners, whānau, hapū and iwi achieve excellent and equitable outcomes (MoE).
- Enacting the 'Education and Training Act' and providing clear expectations and direction for education services to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and achieve better education outcomes for Māori learners and whānau (MoE).
- Implementing RoVE, including establishing Te Pūkenga; strengthening vocational education; and incorporating a focus on outcomes for Māori learners within the framework of the 'Education and Training Act' (MoE and TEC).
- Investing in MME and kaupapa Māori education (MoE).
- Supporting the language, culture and identity of Māori learners, by making Aotearoa New Zealand histories more prominent and implementing Te Ahu o te Reo Māori (MoE).
- Removing barriers for Māori who want to teach in Māori immersion settings, by enabling on-the-job training so they can earn while they learn (MoE).
- Publishing the 'Education (pastoral care of tertiary and international learners) code of practice 2021'. This sets clear expectations that providers should build relationships with Māori learners and their communities, provide staff with appropriate Te Tiriti o Waitangi and cultural competency training, and ensure Māori learners are free from bullying, racism and harassment (MoE).
- Establishing Te Taumata Aronui to support the Government to design tertiary education and system settings that increase responsiveness and improve outcomes for Māori learners and communities (MoE).
- Providing more MME (MoE).
- Strengthening the sense of belonging and engagement within education, through initiatives like Te Hurihanganui; and developing more inclusive practices (this includes no longer streaming students based on their actual or perceived ability) (MoE).
- Supporting iwi and Māori to play greater roles in education services (MoE).
- Developing and implementing initiatives that increase the Māori cultural capability of education providers, careers advisors, navigators and mentors, so they can provide high-quality education services to Māori learners (MoE).
- Expanding early work experience opportunities and increasing access to high-quality vocational pathways, through 'Our youth employment action plan: Setting our young people on a strong pathway to fulfilling working lives' (MoE).
- Improve education for ākonga at risk of disengaging with education (this includes those attending alternative education), by redesigning alternative education (MoE).
- Addressing high non-completion rates for Māori tertiary students (TEC).
Immediate actions
Work with Māori to embed a tikanga-Māori-based framework into employment policy, and develop tools to implement the framework.
- Rationale — Embedding a holistic approach into policy means actions will be underpinned by an understanding of Māori experiences and aspirations. Work in partnership with Māori.
- Overiding objective — EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori.
- How it will be measured — This will be considered as the action is developed.
- Agency — MSD.
- Groups of Māori who benefit the most — Wāhine Māori, rangatahi Māori, older Māori workers, tāngata whaikaha Māori, takatāpui Māori, and employers.
Explore the changes needed for the EET system to be effective and equitable for Māori.
- Rationale — To address persistent inequities in EET outcomes for Māori, it is necessary to understand how the different elements of this complex system can work together to produce better results.
- Overiding objective — EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori.
- How it will be measured — Reporting on key project milestones.
- Agency — TPK.
- Groups of Māori who benefit the most — Māori who need specific support on their pathways to and through employment. This is likely to be rangatahi, wāhine and older workers, and Māori in particular regions.
Improve education outcomes for Māori learners, by implementing and reporting on the actions in 'Ka hikitia – ka hāpaitia'.
- Rationale — Improving education outcomes of Māori learners will give them the skills, knowledge and capabilities to lead and succeed at all stages of their careers.
- Overiding objective — Equitable participation and achievement in education.
- How it will be measured — Reporting on Ka hikitia – ka hāpaitia through the Ngā haeata o Aotearoa report series.
- Agency — MoE and education agencies.
- Groups of Māori who benefit the most — Māori learners and their whānau.
Improve education provided on mātauranga Māori and te reo Māori.
- Rationale — Support Māori learners to strengthen their identity, language and culture because these attributes:
- are valuable in their own right
- support a sense of belonging and engagement, and achievement in education
- are increasingly prominent in Aotearoa New Zealand society and the world of work.
- Overiding objective — Equitable participation and achievement in education.
- How it will be measured — Existing measures in Ka hikitia – ka hāpaitia, reported on through the Ngā haeata o Aotearoa report series.
- Agency — MoE and education agencies.
- Groups of Māori who benefit the most — Māori learners and their whānau.
Medium-term actions
Explore how the EET system can intervene early for rangatahi and tamariki
- Rationale — Early intervention, in areas like social and emotional skills that contribute to employability, strongly benefits future labour market outcomes.
- Overiding objective — Equitable access to, and participation in, sustainable, quality work for all Māori.
- Agency — MBIE, MoE and MSD.
Develop positive case studies that showcase the success of Māori students, workers, employers and business owners in various employment and training programmes (this includes Mana in Mahi, He Poutama Taitamariki, He Poutama Rangatahi and Oranga Mahi)
- Rationale — Messages the effect of positive case studies on people’s choices and perceptions.
- Overiding objective — Equitable access to, and participation in, sustainable, quality work for all Māori.
- Agency — MSD.
Explore ways to incorporate te ao Māori values into employment-support services for tāngata whaikaha
- Rationale — Some groups face persistent and overlapping barriers. They need extra support to participate in the labour market and balance mahi with other priorities.
- Overiding objective — EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori.
- Agency — MSD.
Explore ways to identify and engage with rangatahi Māori who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) and connect them with support services
- Rationale — Rangatahi will have better outcomes if there are interventions to help them stay on the EET pathway they want.
- Overiding objective — EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori.
- Agency — MSD.
Explore whether the current approach to funding and contracting employment services works for Māori, iwi and community service providers, and look at other options to enhance these funding and contracting partnerships
- Rationale — Feedback strongly indicates that funding should be locally led for services to be effective.
- Overiding objective — EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori.
- Agency — MSD.
Review the way that MSD works with iwi, hapū, and Māori groups and how it empowers communities to achieve positive employment outcomes
- Rationale — This action will strengthen our knowledge about the opportunities to embed Te Tiriti obligations within the partnership model for iwi, hapū and Māori and how this enables better labour market outcomes for Māori.
- Overiding objective — EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori.
- Agency — MSD.
Ensure iwi, hapū and urban Māori authorities have information on the online career planning solution (OCPS), so Māori can access career-planning tools
- Rationale — The OCPS will provide an integrated, free, online career planning solution that gives people targeted, quality, personalised career guidance. It will help ākonga identify EET pathways that support their aspirations and goals; make informed career decisions and plans for their life stage; identify constraints and challenges; and support lifelong learning that leads to better employment and wellbeing outcomes.
- Overiding objective — EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori.
- Agency — TEC.
Improve training and employment outcomes for Māori through Te Pūkenga and Workforce Development Councils
- Rationale — The Government has established Te Pūkenga to work with Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) to provide vocational education and training.
The Education and Training Act requires Te Pūkenga to develop meaningful partnerships with Māori employers, communities, hapū and iwi; reflect Māori-Crown partnerships; and work to ensure its governance management and operations give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and improve outcomes for Māori.
Other service providers, including wānanga, will continue to have a role in vocational education and training. Regional Skills Leadership Groups and WDCs will ensure that employer voices are heard and acted on. - Overiding objective — EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori.
- Agency — MoE and education agencies. TEC monitors these entities.
Improve careers education in schools and target support for rangatahi Māori
- Rationale — Clear pathways for Māori learners, as they transition from school to post-school training or employment, so they can identify and fulfil their employment and lifelong aspirations.
- Overiding objective — EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori.
- Agency — MoE and education agencies.
Long-term actions
Incorporate te ao Māori values and community-designed success measures into monitoring and evaluating employment services for Māori
- Rationale — To know whether outcomes – defined by Māori – are working for Māori will help MSD better tailor effective services.
- Overiding objective — EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori.
- Agency — MSD.
Decide if 'kanohi ki te kanohi' career services (such as Direct Career Guidance Services) should become permanent, if evaluations continue to show they are successful
- Rationale — Having a career plan helps people develop new skills and identify transferable skills, so they are prepared if they need to change jobs.
- Overiding objective — EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori.
- Agency — MSD.
Improve data collection on Māori participation in employment services, to accurately monitor whether Māori are taking up opportunities
- Rationale — To know if Māori are taking part in services or programmes, and to assess the impact those services have on Māori.
- Overiding objective — EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori.
- Agency — MSD.
Continue the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) and ensure the reform works for Māori
- Rationale — To embed the interests and needs of Māori learners, whānau, businesses and communities into RoVE.
RoVE is the largest and most complex change to our tertiary education and training system in a generation. The reforms aim to create a strong, unified, sustainable system for all vocational education that delivers the skills that learners, employers and communities need to thrive. It is vital that the interests and needs of Māori learners, whānau, businesses and communities are embedded in the RoVE reforms. - Overiding objective — EET services are tailored and culturally responsive to Māori.
- Agency — MoE and education agencies.
Work with Taumata Aronui to design tertiary education and system settings that will respond better to, and improve outcomes for, Māori learners and communities
- Rationale — Māori have brought a host of opportunities to tertiary education, including alternative ways to deliver tertiary education. This can transform how the education system supports Māori learners to succeed.
Taumata Aronui is supporting the Crown to better work in partnership with Māori. - Overiding objective — Equitable participation and achievement in education.
- Agency — MoE and education agencies.