Public Service leaders have a responsibility to develop the capability of the system to better engage with Māori and understand Māori perspectives.

Te arataki puta noa i te pūnaha Leading across the system

The Public Service has an important role to support the Crown in its relationships with Māori under te Tiriti o Waitangi | the Treaty of Waitangi. The Public Service Act 2020 codifies this role and recognises the responsibility of the Commissioner, chief executives, and all Public Service leaders to develop and maintain the capability of the system to engage with Māori and understand Māori perspectives. Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission works closely with Te Puni Kōkiri | Ministry of Māori Development to lead a whole of system approach to supporting leaders and agencies to fulfil these responsibilities through strengthening system leadership and capability across the Public Service.

Together we have continued to implement the Māori Crown provisions of the Public Service Act 2020 by supporting system leaders at all levels of the Public Service. Some key initiatives include:

  • appointment of a Statutory Deputy Public Service Commissioner who has a core focus on system leadership for Māori Crown relations
  • under section 50 of the Act, the Commissioner appointed Te Hāpai Ō | Māori Advisory Committee to assist with the implementation of the Act, in particular, the provisions regarding the Crown’s obligations to and relationships with Māori
  • leading development opportunities for Public Service leaders, for example, Whakaaro Rangatira pilot programme for senior leaders, common core development of new people leaders with a focus on building Māori Crown capability, and the Rangatahi Māori Emerging Leaders Programme
  • actively encouraging all agencies and leaders to fulfil their responsibilities under Maihi Karauna in partnership with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori | Māori Language Commission, including system implementation of Whāinga Amorangi: Transforming Leadership
  • highlighting excellence by including a specific category for Māori Crown relationships in Te Hāpai Hāpori | Spirit of Service Awards.

Te Kawa Mataaho
Public Service Commission

Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission provides leadership and oversight of the Public Service to ensure agencies work as one system to deliver better services and outcomes for New Zealand. The Public Service Commissioner promotes integrity, accountability, and transparency across the Public Service, including setting standards and issuing guidance. As the Head of Service, one of the Commissioner’s key roles is appointing Public Service chief executives, setting chief executive expectations, and managing system performance.

Te Puni Kōkiri 
Ministry for Māori Development

Te Puni Kōkiri | Ministry of Māori Development is the principal policy advisor to government on matters of specific importance to Māori and Māori wellbeing and development. Its role includes building economic resilience, Māori capability and capacity, monitoring the effectiveness of public services for Māori. 

Te Puni Kōkiri — Kāinga

Te Tari Whakatau 
Office of Treaty Settlements and Takutai Moana

Te Tari Whakatau | Office of Treaty Settlements and Takutai Moana (formerly Te Arawhiti – Office for Māori Crown Relations) is focused on resolving historical Treaty of Waitangi settlements and supporting Takutai Moana determinations. Te Tari Whakatau supports the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and works with whānau, hapū, iwi, Māori and across the Public Service to achieve its vision. They also provide strategic advice on Māori rights and interests that relate to Treaty settlements and Takutai Moana determinations.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori
Māori Language Commission

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori promotes, celebrates, and encourages recognition of te reo Māori as a living language and as an ordinary means of communication across New Zealand. This includes leading the government’s Māori language strategy Maihi Karauna and creating conditions for te reo Māori to thrive.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori was set up under the Māori Language Act 1987 and continued under Te Ture Reo Māori 2016 | the Māori Language Act 2016. It has developed a hub of resources for all things te reo Māori.

Te Taura Whiri — te Reo Māori

Rauemi reo | Reo resources — Te Rangaihi Reo Māori