The 5 Wai's (Not Why's) of Māori Engagement
Atawhai Tibble
Published Sep 8, 2015
In 2015, I was asked to run a session for my colleagues at Treasury on Māori engagement. So to prepare, I went around teams and asked what they wanted to know, rather than assume I knew already. To be honest, I was surprised. A lot of questions were really practical, such as:
-how do I not offend our hosts?
- does every meeting start with speeches?
-does every speech need a song?
-what is a hongi, why do we do it, and how?
-when do you give a koha and how much is appropriate?
-who are iwi, and who do they represent? How do you connect with them?
-what about urban Māori or other groups? Who do they represent? How do you connect with them?
-what are Māori values – and are these different to universal values? How do these Māori values impact on trying to do engage or do business with Māori?
I have answers to all these questions, but to be fair, this is not the point of my post.
The point is that there is a big 'knowledge and experience' chasm between Māori and Pākehā in NZ.
Moreover, people genuinely want help.
So I came up with this model of Māori engagement: the 5 Wai's (not why’s) of engaging with Māori.
The 5 Wai's is based on:
-my own experiences, either learned from my pakeke (elders), or via numerous roles connecting or engaging Māori both in the city and on marae e.g. when I developed the Te Kupenga survey for Stats NZ, I used this approach and successfully got broad and deep Māori engagement on something as boring as a statistical survey!
-lessons gleaned from Māori community and business leaders
-war stories from public sector officials and friends who have succeeded - and, sometimes, failed.
So this is a model. The aim is to simplify and explain - particularly to beginners. If engaging with Māori was easy, everyone would know what to do. But it isn't easy, and people are flummoxed. So this is basic and as comprehensive as possible.
Plus I've tried to make it easy to remember. I've always liked how the Americans write business books. They create memorable titles. Like the 7 habits of highly effective people, or the 6 capitals of business, or the 3 bottom lines. I think the 5 Wai's is easy to remember!
So here is my version on how to engage with Māori. I hope this model helps you. (If you need more help, go to the end of this article.)
NĀ WAI
As in Nā wai te hui i karanga?
(Who in your organisation has created the need to engage, and most importantly, why?)
This is probably the most important piece of advice I give people. Clarify your organisation’s why, as in, why are you engaging with Māori?
(Just to note here - sometimes a Māori group or entity wants to meet with you. Even if this is the case, the question for you is the same, and has just as much importance - why are you engaging?)
KO WAI
As in Ko wai ngā Māori nei?
(Who are the people you are engaging or connecting with? Or sometimes, it's who do you need to engage with?)
Don't just say - we need to engage with Māori! Which Māori? Why those Māori? How are they relevant to your question/s?
Then find out about the people who you are meeting with i.e.
-Who are they?
-Why are you meeting with them?
But also, dig deeper. Really understand these people and who they are?
-What is their entity?
-What is their strategic plan?
-Who are their leaders?
Simply put, you need to do some homework. Use Google, Linkedin and look in the news. If they are an iwi, look on Stats NZ for their iwi profile. (click here for the 2013 Iwi profiles http://archive.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/2013-census-iwi-profiles.aspx)
By understanding the Māori who you are meeting with, who they are, and their journey, or story, you will be able to provide more context to the meaning and purpose of the engagement. This will also help to shape the nature and the ultimate focus of the engagement.
**** Here is an extra piece of advice if you are consulting with Māori on a kaupapa or topic or policy piece: right size your assessment of who is relevant. I'm still stunned that officials can think they can consult with all Māori on a shoe string budget, and yet they fail to engage adequately with Māori in the community who are representatives on peak or expert bodies.
My advice: right size your consultation. So for example, imagine you are consulting on a piece of work that is relevant to a particular area or rohe: prioritise Māori in that area or rohe. Or what if you you are consulting on a piece of work that is relevant to a particular subject matter area or topic: prioritise Māori in that particular subject matter area or topic.
Again, you should engage with an expert Māori navigator who can help you focus your engagement.
MO WAI?
As in Mō wai tēnei hui?
(What is the benefit of this meeting or arrangement for Māori?)
Spend some time trying to understand what Iwi or Māori want. Dig deep to get their needs. This will help shape the nature and the focus of the engagement, and it will ultimately contribute to any successful relationship or partnership that may emerge.
Here are some key questions:
-What do iwi want?
-What is their story?
-What is their mission and plan?
-What are their values?
-What projects have they been involved in lately - projects relevant to your organisation?
-What do you know about their partners?
-How successful have they been in 'nailing' their projects?
Understand their why. Do more homework.
By understanding the Māori who you are meeting with, who they are, and their journey, or story, and their projects in the area you work in, you will be able to gain more context to the meaning and purpose of the engagement. This should help shape the nature and the ultimate focus of any agreement.
MA WAI?
As in Mā wai tatou e korero? Or Ma wai tatou e arahi?
(Who will speak for us, or who will lead us?)
This is probably the biggest tip I can give anyone trying to engage with Māori. Get Māori expert help. ‘Ma wai’ is about the person or people leading you, making sure you have right team and skill sets, and most of all, making sure you have a cultural navigator.
Sometimes it is someone in your office. Other times, and most of the time, there is a local person, or someone well known in the subject matter area, who is a "connector".
They can tell you who is who out there, who the real chief is (including the chieftanesses), and what is going on.
They can also help you identify who you really need to speak or consult with.
Find this person.
Make them a part of your team.
Help them to help you.
***Another point has come to my attention. Be careful how you use your navigator. Don’t just use them as Rolodex or Contacts app. Remember these people have spent years developing their contacts. They will want you to look after their contacts. Keep them involved.
Separate but related, they will normally be more than just the sayer of prayers, maker of speeches, and singer of songs! Make the most of their wisdom and knowledge and integrate them into your team. Culture underpins value and this expertise can add value to the identification of solutions or options.
HE WAI?
As in He wai? Or have you got a song? This is a very common thing said by the people when someone is speaking, or preparing to engage.
(How do you connect with respect and authenticity?)
This Wai is about how you connect with Māori - the expectation is that you will connect with cultural respect and authenticity.
At a broad level, make sure you know your Marae 101’s: mihi, waiata, hongi. Be prepared to show that you have done your homework and take a Māori relationship seriously. Pronounce Māori words properly. Be prepared to stand up and say a mihimihi. Know how to hongi. Learn a waiata. This stuff matters to Māori. They will be pleased at your efforts. Be prepared. It’s the Post Treaty Settlement World!
If you are consulting on a piece of work, think about cultural protocols for starting and ending meetings, the use of facilities like marae, and the use of Māori concepts like manaakitanga and reciprocity.
Remember simple cultural things like being a good host, or an even better visitor. Think about this. Plan for this. Budget for it. So formally welcome people! Let people respond! Make time for intros - even short ones. Have a karakia! Have a waiata - a simple one everyone can sing. Have a cup of tea and refreshments. If you have gone out to take ideas and feedback from Māori, how are you giving something back to them for their time and effort and input? I am not talking money here. I am talking a report back or feedback on how their input was used.
Also, if you are visiting people, don't be a seagull: don’t just drop in and take off. If at all possible, stay as late as possible. Don't leave early to catch a plane. If you can stay to eat together, do it. Māori really respect this, and never forget it.
It's even better to make yourself well known. If you want to have a long-term relationship, then don't just go once. Reconnect. Go back.
But remember too, being prepared also means knowing when to - and when not to. Sometimes there may be a very formal welcome. Other times you may go straight into business. All that may be needed is a simple mihi.
Trust your local guide or navigator as they will ensure you do the right thing at the right time - or in other words, get the tikanga right.
Good luck. Kia kaha!
Ngā mihi, Atawhai
Atawhai Tibble
Published Sep 8, 2015
In 2015, I was asked to run a session for my colleagues at Treasury on Māori engagement. So to prepare, I went around teams and asked what they wanted to know, rather than assume I knew already. To be honest, I was surprised. A lot of questions were really practical, such as:
-how do I not offend our hosts?
- does every meeting start with speeches?
-does every speech need a song?
-what is a hongi, why do we do it, and how?
-when do you give a koha and how much is appropriate?
-who are iwi, and who do they represent? How do you connect with them?
-what about urban Māori or other groups? Who do they represent? How do you connect with them?
-what are Māori values – and are these different to universal values? How do these Māori values impact on trying to do engage or do business with Māori?
I have answers to all these questions, but to be fair, this is not the point of my post.
The point is that there is a big 'knowledge and experience' chasm between Māori and Pākehā in NZ.
Moreover, people genuinely want help.
So I came up with this model of Māori engagement: the 5 Wai's (not why’s) of engaging with Māori.
The 5 Wai's is based on:
-my own experiences, either learned from my pakeke (elders), or via numerous roles connecting or engaging Māori both in the city and on marae e.g. when I developed the Te Kupenga survey for Stats NZ, I used this approach and successfully got broad and deep Māori engagement on something as boring as a statistical survey!
-lessons gleaned from Māori community and business leaders
-war stories from public sector officials and friends who have succeeded - and, sometimes, failed.
So this is a model. The aim is to simplify and explain - particularly to beginners. If engaging with Māori was easy, everyone would know what to do. But it isn't easy, and people are flummoxed. So this is basic and as comprehensive as possible.
Plus I've tried to make it easy to remember. I've always liked how the Americans write business books. They create memorable titles. Like the 7 habits of highly effective people, or the 6 capitals of business, or the 3 bottom lines. I think the 5 Wai's is easy to remember!
So here is my version on how to engage with Māori. I hope this model helps you. (If you need more help, go to the end of this article.)
NĀ WAI
As in Nā wai te hui i karanga?
(Who in your organisation has created the need to engage, and most importantly, why?)
This is probably the most important piece of advice I give people. Clarify your organisation’s why, as in, why are you engaging with Māori?
- Are you consulting on a policy?
- Is it legislative? Do you have post Treaty settlement commitments?
- Is it relationship based? Do you want to have a meaningful relationship with iwi?
- Is it commercial? Do you want to do business with an iwi or trust?
- Is it policy focused? Do you have a proposal that you want iwi or Māori to understand or engage with? Are you consulting?
(Just to note here - sometimes a Māori group or entity wants to meet with you. Even if this is the case, the question for you is the same, and has just as much importance - why are you engaging?)
KO WAI
As in Ko wai ngā Māori nei?
(Who are the people you are engaging or connecting with? Or sometimes, it's who do you need to engage with?)
Don't just say - we need to engage with Māori! Which Māori? Why those Māori? How are they relevant to your question/s?
Then find out about the people who you are meeting with i.e.
-Who are they?
-Why are you meeting with them?
But also, dig deeper. Really understand these people and who they are?
-What is their entity?
-What is their strategic plan?
-Who are their leaders?
Simply put, you need to do some homework. Use Google, Linkedin and look in the news. If they are an iwi, look on Stats NZ for their iwi profile. (click here for the 2013 Iwi profiles http://archive.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/2013-census-iwi-profiles.aspx)
By understanding the Māori who you are meeting with, who they are, and their journey, or story, you will be able to provide more context to the meaning and purpose of the engagement. This will also help to shape the nature and the ultimate focus of the engagement.
**** Here is an extra piece of advice if you are consulting with Māori on a kaupapa or topic or policy piece: right size your assessment of who is relevant. I'm still stunned that officials can think they can consult with all Māori on a shoe string budget, and yet they fail to engage adequately with Māori in the community who are representatives on peak or expert bodies.
My advice: right size your consultation. So for example, imagine you are consulting on a piece of work that is relevant to a particular area or rohe: prioritise Māori in that area or rohe. Or what if you you are consulting on a piece of work that is relevant to a particular subject matter area or topic: prioritise Māori in that particular subject matter area or topic.
Again, you should engage with an expert Māori navigator who can help you focus your engagement.
MO WAI?
As in Mō wai tēnei hui?
(What is the benefit of this meeting or arrangement for Māori?)
Spend some time trying to understand what Iwi or Māori want. Dig deep to get their needs. This will help shape the nature and the focus of the engagement, and it will ultimately contribute to any successful relationship or partnership that may emerge.
Here are some key questions:
-What do iwi want?
-What is their story?
-What is their mission and plan?
-What are their values?
-What projects have they been involved in lately - projects relevant to your organisation?
-What do you know about their partners?
-How successful have they been in 'nailing' their projects?
Understand their why. Do more homework.
By understanding the Māori who you are meeting with, who they are, and their journey, or story, and their projects in the area you work in, you will be able to gain more context to the meaning and purpose of the engagement. This should help shape the nature and the ultimate focus of any agreement.
MA WAI?
As in Mā wai tatou e korero? Or Ma wai tatou e arahi?
(Who will speak for us, or who will lead us?)
This is probably the biggest tip I can give anyone trying to engage with Māori. Get Māori expert help. ‘Ma wai’ is about the person or people leading you, making sure you have right team and skill sets, and most of all, making sure you have a cultural navigator.
Sometimes it is someone in your office. Other times, and most of the time, there is a local person, or someone well known in the subject matter area, who is a "connector".
They can tell you who is who out there, who the real chief is (including the chieftanesses), and what is going on.
They can also help you identify who you really need to speak or consult with.
Find this person.
Make them a part of your team.
Help them to help you.
***Another point has come to my attention. Be careful how you use your navigator. Don’t just use them as Rolodex or Contacts app. Remember these people have spent years developing their contacts. They will want you to look after their contacts. Keep them involved.
Separate but related, they will normally be more than just the sayer of prayers, maker of speeches, and singer of songs! Make the most of their wisdom and knowledge and integrate them into your team. Culture underpins value and this expertise can add value to the identification of solutions or options.
HE WAI?
As in He wai? Or have you got a song? This is a very common thing said by the people when someone is speaking, or preparing to engage.
(How do you connect with respect and authenticity?)
This Wai is about how you connect with Māori - the expectation is that you will connect with cultural respect and authenticity.
At a broad level, make sure you know your Marae 101’s: mihi, waiata, hongi. Be prepared to show that you have done your homework and take a Māori relationship seriously. Pronounce Māori words properly. Be prepared to stand up and say a mihimihi. Know how to hongi. Learn a waiata. This stuff matters to Māori. They will be pleased at your efforts. Be prepared. It’s the Post Treaty Settlement World!
If you are consulting on a piece of work, think about cultural protocols for starting and ending meetings, the use of facilities like marae, and the use of Māori concepts like manaakitanga and reciprocity.
Remember simple cultural things like being a good host, or an even better visitor. Think about this. Plan for this. Budget for it. So formally welcome people! Let people respond! Make time for intros - even short ones. Have a karakia! Have a waiata - a simple one everyone can sing. Have a cup of tea and refreshments. If you have gone out to take ideas and feedback from Māori, how are you giving something back to them for their time and effort and input? I am not talking money here. I am talking a report back or feedback on how their input was used.
Also, if you are visiting people, don't be a seagull: don’t just drop in and take off. If at all possible, stay as late as possible. Don't leave early to catch a plane. If you can stay to eat together, do it. Māori really respect this, and never forget it.
It's even better to make yourself well known. If you want to have a long-term relationship, then don't just go once. Reconnect. Go back.
But remember too, being prepared also means knowing when to - and when not to. Sometimes there may be a very formal welcome. Other times you may go straight into business. All that may be needed is a simple mihi.
Trust your local guide or navigator as they will ensure you do the right thing at the right time - or in other words, get the tikanga right.
Good luck. Kia kaha!
Ngā mihi, Atawhai