Crown-Māori Relationships
The Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development) Award for Excellence in Crown-Māori relationships recognises the complex and diverse range of relationships between Māori and government. The best of these relationships provide the conduit through which Māori can contribute to policy and planning processes in the areas that affect them, and also ensure that government can meet its own objectives and outcomes.
Each Crown - Māori relationship is unique, and should recognise the complexity and diversity of the parties to the relationship. Excellence in the category of Crown-Māori Relationships may be demonstrated through an example of a good relationship between an agency and a specific Māori group, or demonstrated through the agency’s relationships with Māori generally.
Criteria
The extent to which the organisation’s relationship or relationships with Māori demonstrates:
- commitment to the relationship with Māori, undertaken in good faith and with good intent, generating a high degree of trust and goodwill from Māori toward the organisation
- achieving a reciprocal relationship, with each party seeking to understand the viewpoint, circumstances, capability and operating environment of the other, and an ability to compromise when required
- employing staff with the requisite experience, skill and empathy to work with the organisation’s Māori stakeholders, and encouraging staff in their responsiveness to Māori
- evaluating the organisation’s performance in its relationships with Māori and providing an avenue for disagreement and complaint.