Permanent Kaupapa Māori and Cultural Communities branch structure established and recruitment commences
From today, our Kaupapa Māori and Cultural Communities (KMCC) branch establishes a new branch structure, reaffirming our commitment to working with Māori as tāngata whenua.
In 2018, Fire and Emergency committed to working with Māori as tāngata whenua, stating this in our Statement of Intent and Statement of Performance Expectations.
Over the last six years, we have started weaving this commitment into what we do through: the initial establishment of the Kaupapa Māori and Cultural Communities branch, programmes that support the uplift of our cultural capability under Hiwa-i-te-rangi, an increased presence in events such as Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and Mahuru Māori, and most recently, the development of our Rautaki Māori | Māori Strategy.
The Rautaki Māori sets a vision for stronger, more resilient Māori communities with four pou (pillars) of focus:
- He Toa Takitini | Relationships and partnerships with Māori
- Hapori Tū, Hapori Ora | Safer Māori communities
- Kia Mārama, kia whai | Leadership and accountability
- Ngā Tāngata | Growing the capability of our people.
Bringing this rautaki (strategy) to life is the responsibility of everyone at Fire and Emergency with the support of KMCC.
KMCC is the kaitiaki (guardian) of the rautaki, on behalf of Fire and Emergency, providing strategic leadership, influence, and support to branches as the rautaki is woven into different mahi and ways of operating.
With this in mind, KMCC will start embedding a permanent branch structure from 8 July to support the delivery of Rautaki Māori.
The permanent structure will also pick up the mahi piloted by the Hiwa-i-te-rangi project team to ensure branches continue to receive support to build capability and capacity at a local level. A new team within KMCC will be committed to ensuring our organisation incorporates Kaupapa Māori into our services.
Piki Thomas, Deputy Chief Executive, says that the new structure will build on the great mahi undertaken over the last six years.
‘It’s been wonderful to witness the growth of Kaupapa Māori within Fire and Emergency through people’s use of te reo Māori, uptake in events like Mahuru Māori and engagement in the development of our rautaki.”
We have taken great steps in our journey to ensure our tāngata (people), taonga (property, possessions and other treasures) and taiao (environment) are protected and I am confident our new structure will benefit Fire and Emergency and those we all serve”.
The first tranche of roles in the structure are currently being advertised:
Check out our Fire Jobs website(external link) or click on the above links to find out more.