Do you believe that the Māori culture is an integral part of your business, for example, can you see, hear, feel and even taste aspects of it within the everyday life of your business?
No, I don't
Within your policy you need to outline the ways that your business will promote te ao Māori (the Māori world). You need to think about including the following aspects of Mana Motuhake:
- All staff should use greetings and farewells in te reo Māori - all staff and promote for customers to use too, for example:
- Kia ora - Hello
- Ka kite anō - See you again
- Kei te pēhea koe? - How are you?
- Kei te pai ahau - I am good
- It is important that you included aspects of tikanga Māori within this policy for your business, for example:
- Use mihi whakatau (informal welocme) to begin the work year and to welcome any new staff. For more information about mihi whakatau, see this website: https://governance.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/14-ceremonies-and-other-conventions/customary-m%C4%81ori-ceremonies/detail-for-powhiri-and-whakatau/
- Karakia should be used to begin and finish the work day and for any occasions when you have shared kai (food). See this website for karakia that you could use: https://www.otago.ac.nz/maori/world/te-reo-maori/karakia-prayers/index.html
- Provide opportunities for your staff to have shared kai. This encourages making connections and also lifts staff moral and boost wellbeing
- All staff should have at least one experience where you visit or stay on a marae
- Building strong and respectful relationships must be at the forefront of this policy, to do this you should:
- Provide opportunities for staff to learn/share their mihi/pepeha. See here for more information about mihi/pepeha: https://www.parentingresource.nz/supporting-information/pepeha/
- Within this policy you should outline ways in which you plan to include the whānau (family) of staff members within your business. For example:
- Organise days or events where whānau are encouraged to come into the workplace to support your staff members
- These events could also take place at the homes of your staff members which helps to create a healthy connection between the home and the workplace. This also helps to ensure that your workplace becomes more of a whānau based environment where everyone feels respected and safe.