pn772. Māori Crown Relations Office: Accusations of Racism and failed purpose

There are disturbing reports about the work environment of Te Arawhiti, the Office for Māori Crown Relations established by the new Labour Government in 2018 to support the Crown in being a better Treaty partner. Māori staff are leaving the agency at high rates, with many former Māori staff accusing it of racism.

The agency has over 170 staff, Pākehā outnumbering Māori three to one (74.4 to 25.6%), and the highest unplanned turnover rate for new staff of any core government agency or ministry, 30% compared with 13.2%  for all core public service agencies.

A former staff member claimed that while its biggest business unit Te Kāhui Whakatau is responsible for negotiating Treaty of Waitangi settlements with iwi and hapū on behalf of the Crown, "Māori are wheeled out to be the face of the organisation at public events."  

Another said she often felt her decisions or views were not trusted or respected by Pākehā managers. "There was a lot of having to ask permission to do a lot of things that were perfectly in the remit of what your job description was. It's like having to ask permission to sneeze," she said. "It wasn't a place where you felt supported or empowered".

Many other former staff told RNZ said microaggressions and 'casual racism' were common. The length of time a Māori staff member would stay in the job "depended on how much bullshit they could put up with," the woman said.  Māori felt 'culturally unsafe' around the "largely Pākehā" team and faced casual racism.

Another woman said she felt the team was expected to prioritise concluding Treaty settlements quickly over ensuring iwi and hapū were given a meaningful negotiation process.  "Negotiation is not quite the right term for what we're doing. Because there's hardly any negotiation about it," she said. "The Crown has a predetermined outcome. There's a little bit of wriggle room. But getting your head around that was [difficult] and it was quite at odds with who you are as a Māori… It's all about milestones."

Former staff told RNZ they believe Te Arawhiti has failed to embody its foundation values. It was headed by career Pākehā with civil servant mind sets.  Many Māori had left because it wasn't the transformational organisation it was intended to be.

Te Arawhiti said it was not surprised by the 30% new staff turnover rate because Māori staff were in high demand elsewhere. 

The agency reiterated its commitment to building its capability across the Māori Crown relationship through hui, wānanga and other learning opportunities. Te Arawhiti said it invested in cultural advisors to ensure all its staff were kept culturally safe.

Click here for the original press release.

It is noted, also, that its Chief Executive is Māori which I find rather strange given the accusations. Click here for Lil Anderson.