We’re working with Māori to address identified needs
Historically, Māori have experienced significant and ongoing disadvantage with respect to wellbeing outcomes. Providing effective services and support for Māori is a critical factor in achieving our goal of improving the social and economic outcomes of all New Zealanders.
The Māori population is young and growing (with around one-third aged under 15). Māori comprise 15 percent of the working-age population, but make up 31 percent of the benefit system and 44 percent of the Social Housing Register, and are more likely to be on benefit for a long time and to go on and off benefit more regularly. Te Pae Tawhiti (our future direction), highlights improvements with respect to outcomes for Māori as a critical priority. A highly skilled and motivated Māori workforce will make an important contribution to increased standards of living and New Zealand business growth. Safe, thriving Māori families will support whānau and community wellbeing.
We have invested in a dedicated resource to support our work with Te Hiku o te Ika and Tūhoe on the two Social Accords we are responsible for, and to ensure that we effectively engage with iwi on post-Treaty settlement work.
We recently began collaborating with Māori and Pacific providers and other focus groups to develop our Māori and Pacific Strategies and Action Plans, which will address areas like procurement processes, building internal capability, strengthening partnerships, supporting provider capability and making it easier for the people we serve to deal with us.
