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Tirohanga ahumahi

Industry insights

Hanga-Aro-Rau gathers industry insights through various channels, including industry forums, data and research, and employer feedback. From this, we have identified key challenges that impact Māori workforce outcomes in our sectors. The most common factors influencing these challenges are informed by the following key insights: 

Hanga-Aro-Rau engages with nine National Industry Advisory Groups (NIAGs), which provided critical input on Māori workforce development. The groups identified several areas of importance: 

Industry is grappling to embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi and wants to embrace te reo Māori

Addressing an ageing workforce

Promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce

Improving engagement, attraction, and retention of Māori workers

Raising awareness of Māori industry initiatives across sectors

Sharing case studies of organisations with best practices in Māori workforce development.

We also brought together Māori members of these advisory groups to provide insights on workforce development specific to Māori. Key areas of importance highlighted by these members include: 

Pastoral care and resilience-building for learners 

Creating clear career pathway roadmaps 

Addressing the lack of data on the Māori workforce, particularly in relation to learners 

Increasing awareness of industry initiatives for Māori workforce attraction, retention, and progression 

Recognition of workplace learning through stackable micro-credentials 

Expanding Te Ao Māori content in qualifications, from gateway programmes through to workplace practices 

Providing cultural competency resources for industries 

Accessing funding streams to support talent attraction and retention. 

You can read more about our wānanga with our Māori NIAG members below.

Over the past two years, our Whanake Māori team has worked closely with Māori businesses, and organisations with over 20% Māori workers. These engagements have revealed key barriers that businesses face in improving Māori workforce outcomes, including: 

Limited awareness and perception of our industries 

Challenges in attracting and retaining Māori workers 

The need for more diverse and inclusive workplaces 

Issues related to worker productivity 

Gaps in qualifications and training opportunities 

Increasing operating costs 

Inadequate career pathways.