Ratonga Ahi me ngā Ohotata i Aotearoa Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Medium-Large Organisation Highly Commended
In 2018, Ratonga Ahi me ngā Ohotata i Fire and Emergency New Zealand published its tauākī paiherenga expressing its commitment to working with Maōri as tāngata whenua. It signalled the organisation’s intention to strengthen its cultural understanding and build relationships with Māori in culturally appropriate ways.
“This commitment was to become the tūāpapa (foundation) to support all future work aspiring towards better outcomes for Māori,” says Senior Communications Advisor for the Kaupapa Māori and Cultural Branch Caitlin Mackay.
As Aotearoa’s unified urban and rural firefighting entity, with more than 14,500 people, the organisation provides support for communities throughout the country, protecting and preserving lives, property and the environment. Ratonga Ahi me ngā Ohotata is consistently voted the most trusted public sector organisation in Aotearoa.
However, its work extends beyond essential services and into education. Helping to reduce the incidence of unwanted fires and the associated risk to life and property, damage to property, land and the environment.
Māori are disproportionately affected by unwanted fires and emergencies, and with almost half of their asset base invested in climate sensitive industries, iwi and hapū are also highly impacted by climate-change related fires. With this knowledge, Ratonga Ahi me ngā Ohotata was compelled to strengthen its service to deliver better outcomes for Māori.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini. My success is not the work of an individual, but the work of many.
This well-known whakataukī speaks to the importance of acknowledging those who have contributed to your success. In the case of Ratonga Ahi me ngā Ohotata, it refers to the important mahi done to build capacity and confidence within their organisation to uphold their commitment to Māori.
This led to the creation of He Tīmatanga Kōrero - An introductory quide to Kaupapa Māori for Fire and Emergency NZ. An illustrated resource, providing understanding around the commitment and what kaupapa Māori looks like within the organisation, the resource gives kaimahi beginner knowledge regarding the use of te reo Māori, tikanga, our history as a nation and building enduring relationships based on mutual understanding.
To accompany the resource, a Tohu, wearable award, was designed to visually represent the commitment made by the wearer to the kaupapa and their progression in their cultural education.
“The intention of He Tīmatanga Kōrero and the Tohu was to give our people an accessible way to take the first step in increasing their knowledge of aspects of te ao Māori,” Caitlin says.
“By doing so, they will be encouraged to take another step, and then another. All these steps accumulate in our people having a greater appreciation for Māori culture and, in turn, better serving Māori in their role.”
Bringing to life the phrase he toa takatini, success through the work of many, the implementation of the resource was led by the organisation’s Board and Executive.
Caitlin says that from the outset, the Executive Leadership Team and Board set the tone by all attaining their Tohu. “They continue to wear them with pride and actively encourage others to follow suit.”
Since then, the kaupapa has grown organically, with more than 2,700 personnel completing the guide and knowledge check, and receiving their Tohu.
Caitlin believes that He Tīmatanga Kōrero and the Tohu demonstrates effective implementation through a combination of strong leadership commitment, shared responsibility among staff, and targeted initiatives.
“The kaupapa has fostered cultural understanding and celebrates achievement, becoming a symbol of our organisation’s commitment to doing better by Māori.”
