InternetNZ’s Māori Design Group
A blog from Jordan Carter, Chief Executive of InternetNZ
In deepening InternetNZ’s understanding of and connection with Te Ao Māori over recent years, we have relied heavily on the insight and passion, skills, connections and expertise of three current and past members of our Council who have led this mahi.
Last year, we recognised the need to do more in this area. In October, we recruited the first Tumuaki Māori for our organisation, with Raniera Albert (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Porou) joining the staff in this role. Raniera sits on our Senior Leadership Team.
This year, as part of needing to draw on a greater breadth of views and not to rely as heavily on our Council wāhine or Raniera in guiding this work, we are establishing a Māori Design Group.
We’re recruiting a set of people with diverse perspectives and experience to help shape our development — in the work we do, the ways we engage with Māori, how we tackle challenges of structural racism, how we incorporate te ao Māori into our work — and no doubt in many more ways as well.
Members of the InternetNZ Māori Design Group:
- Co-Chair - Prof. Sir Pou Temara KNZM, CNZM
- Co-Chair - Aleisha Amohia
- Member - Jo Maraki
- Member - Hone Paul
- Member - Whetu Fala
The group is more than an advisory group, and I’m very much looking forward to the proactive and constructive challenges they will be working with us to respond to.
The Terms of Reference for the group were adopted by our Council in May. You can find the document on our website here: Māori Design Group ToR
I’d like to thank Sarah Lee, Amber Craig and Hiria Te Rangi for their work through Te Komiti Whakauru Māori to drive for, design and help recruit for this group — and the Council as a whole for their support of this important work.
The Komiti Whakauru Māori and Raniera worked together to identify the members listed above, who will help push our kaupapa forward.
Acknowledging our organisation’s history and track record in this area — connecting with and understanding Te Ao Māori — is vital. Change in this area has to happen. We cannot serve the diverse communities of Aotearoa New Zealand and meet their needs effectively without change.
Our team are looking at how we go about this work, and very much looking forward to working with the Council and the Māori Design Group over the next few months in working out the strategic direction, what our goals are in this area and how we’ll measure progress.
Ngā mihi nui
Jordan