Treaty of Waitangi

Te Tiriti o Waitangi defines the obligations and responsibilities of Barnardos New Zealand in its relationship with Māori.

The three Articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi give rise to the following acknowledgements:

Article 1: Kawanatanga - governorship: to be responsive to Māori
Article 2: Tino rangatiratanga - self determination
Article 3: Oritetanga - equality

Statement of Commitment

Barnardos New Zealand is committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a founding document of Aotearoa. This commitment is a core value underpinning its services and all of its relationships with Māori at organisational, client and employment levels. This is reflected within the organisation's value of Respect for Others:

"We acknowledge and respect differences in each other, and provide a safe, supportive environment where all individuals are valued and encouraged to engage in open two-way communication."

On this basis, Barnardos New Zealand commits to:

1. Delivering services that are responsive to the needs and perspectives of Māori in a culturally appropriate manner. It also commits to creating and maintaining a workplace that is responsive to the needs and perspectives of, and is culturally safe for, Māori staff.
2. Recognising and acknowledging the special status of tangata whenua and the importance of mana whenua.
3. Contributing to the achievement of optimal outcomes for Māori.

Active Expressions

To give active expression to this commitment, Barnardos will:

1. Establish and maintain a structured relationship with Māori staff which enables them to participate in decision making with respect to the above commitments.
   This includes:
   a) a commitment to hui with Māori staff at least once a year
   b) a commitment by the Strategic Leadership Team to actively support the participation of Māori staff in local and national Māori staff networks.
2. Establish and maintain mutually supportive formal relationships with Māori at local levels for cultural and professional advice
3. To resource all Barnardos staff to further their knowledge of the Treaty of Waitangi
4. Identify core Māori cultural practices required of staff in support of cultural appropriateness and safety for Māori.

Download Ngā Pou E Whā - Maori strategy.