Kaimahi Māori
It's important to remember and acknowledge intersectionality, as everyone has multiple identities, and experience discrimination and privilege in different ways. The kaimahi Māori workforce contributes significantly to Aotearoa New Zealand’s construction and infrastructure sectors. kaimahi Māori represents 16.7% of the construction workforce equating to about 48,500 individuals highlighting kaimahi Māori participation is vital to the sectors growth and sustainability.
It's important to remember and acknowledge intersectionality, as everyone has multiple identities, and experience discrimination and privilege in different ways.
The kaimahi Māori workforce contributes significantly to Aotearoa New Zealand’s construction and infrastructure sectors. kaimahi Māori represents 16.7% of the construction workforce equating to about 48,500 individuals highlighting kaimahi Māori participation is vital to the sectors growth and sustainability.
Kaimahi Māori offer skills, knowledge, perspectives and values which can greatly benefit business performance and productivity as building cultural competency and integrating Māori perspectives, values, and practices into projects grows in importance.
Ensuring workplaces for kaimahi Māori that fosters greater inclusion and respect of Māori values and cultural norms, and connections to Te Ao Māori will build a more inclusive and supportive workplace culture.
Kaimahi Māori like all kaimahi deserve to be treated equally and respected ensuring a more diverse and resilient construction and infrastructure sector.
Key Statistics
16.% of kaimahi Māori work in New Zealand’s construction workforce
14% of Māori owned businesses make up all construction business
6% is within construction (4,854)
4% is within service (505)
4% is within infrastructure (226)
53% of Māori sole traders make up all construction business
22% of construction (5627)
11% of service (135)
20% of infrastructure (151)
Of those lost to suicide 21.3% were Māori compared to 16% that were lost from the Māori population outside of construction
Common workplace barriers
Lack of culturally relevant workplaces
Systemic biases in business and employment practices
Harassment and discrimination
Lack of representation in senior roles
Reduced income, due to the ethnic pay gap
Steps to include Māori people in your workplace
Practical strategies
Facilitate an inclusive and positive workplace
Foster greater inclusion of te ao Māori perspectives within workplaces
Provide programmes to mentor and provide pastoral care for kaimahi Māori
Provide kaimahi Māori with ongoing training and development opportunities to support retention
Address bias and use culturally supportive hiring practices and methods
Include Te Reo Māori in the workspaces
Network with local Iwi
Connect with Māori support services
Workplace policies
Zero-tolerance harassment/discrimination policy
Equal pay auditing procedures.
Employment agreements that reflect tikanga Māori
How to write job ads for this group
Include te reo Māori in your job ads
Highlight your organisation’s diversity and inclusion policy
Promote integration of te ao Māori values by publishing business strategies or activities or projects that incorporating Māori values, Iwi networks and / or projects
Resources
https://www.waihangaararau.nz/maori-matters/
Enhancing Workplace Morale and Safety with Māori Concepts - Waihanga Ara Rau