Fire and Emergency New Zealand - Hiwa-i-te-rangi Māori Outcomes Programme – Cultural Competency Framework

Since the establishment of the Public Service Act (2020), the Government made a commitment to improve services and outcomes for Māori.  Gemtech was engaged to scope components and develop the business case for the Cultural Competency Framework.

As part of the commitment, all public service leaders were required to develop and maintain capability to engage with Māori and understand their perspectives. In 2018, FENZ made the commitment to recognise Māori as tangata whenua. Thus committing to improving their outcomes for Māori, and strengthening their cultural capability, diversity, and inclusion.

In preparation for testing and piloting stages, Grant Porter and Danielle Deans worked collaboratively with FENZ to build the framework with special care given to the capability framework created by Te Arawhiti, the Office for Māori Crown Relationships. Consideration of this enabled Gemtech to provide a coordinated approach to building cultural capability across the public service.   The attendance of an overnight marae-based wānanga provided Grant and Danielle the opportunity to listen to kōrero about the meaning of cultural capability and meaningful engagement to these individuals.  Gemtech is grateful to have been a part of this journey which will have an everlasting impact on the team.