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OUR TIRITI COMMITMENT

Vision

To be a Tangata Tiriti organisation that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi through meaningful partnership, respect for Māori knowledge and leadership, and a shared commitment to equitable wellbeing for all.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Kawanatanga (Governance)
We act with integrity, transparency, and accountability to serve and protect the wellbeing of all people we support.

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Tino Rangatiratanga (Self-determination)
We uphold Māori leadership, autonomy, and decision-making in all areas that affect Māori health and wellbeing.

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Ōritetanga (Equity)
We are committed to addressing inequities and ensuring fair and equal access to all FDS services.

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Wairuatanga (Spirituality and Cultural Protection)
We value te reo Māori, tikanga, and Māori worldviews as integral to wellbeing and ensure these are visible and respected within FDS.

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WHAT THIS MEANS IN PRACTICE

  • We have committed to the journey, recognise that it is a lifelong journey full of many steps, evaluations, iterations, and adaptations over time.

  • We partner with Māori at every level; governance, management, and service delivery.

  • We protect Māori rights, cultural identity, and wellbeing.

  • We enable participation by ensuring equitable access to employment, leadership, and training.

  • We promote equity by identifying and addressing systemic barriers for Māori.

  • We build capability through continuous learning about Te Tiriti o Waitangi, te ao Māori, and cultural safety.

OUR TANGATA TIRITI JOURNEY

Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a continuous and relational process. We are committed to learning, reflection, and action; taking time to build genuine relationships, listen, and adapt. We will continue to review our activities and partnerships to ensure they align with our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and we will celebrate progress as we grow our capacity as a Tangata Tiriti organisation.

2018-2019

  • Adoption of Aotearoa in name of organisation.

  • Te reo Māori leads all sections of the Trust Deed, as developed by Māori academics at the University of Canterbury.

  • Commenced developing FDS services and strategy to align with Te Whare Tapa Whā.

  • Consultation with Māori Advisor to design culturally appropriate Te Whare Tapa Whā imagery and wording.

  • Website evidencing alignment with Te Whare Tapa Whā as a guiding principle launched.

  • Marketing materials evidencing alignment with Te Whare Tapa Whā as a guiding principle created.

  • Permanently changed all references of ‘families’ to ‘family/whānau’.

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Brenda Lowe-Johnson, Kaumatua Family Drug Support.jpg
2020-2022

  • Sought and trained Māori practitioner.

  • Appointed Brenda Lowe -Johnston as Kaumatua to support culturally appropriate governance.

  • Received funding from Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu to fund participation of whānau Māori and a professional development plan for staff based on Te Whare Tapa Whā.

  • Entered into Memorandum of Understanding with Tuia Ki Te Ipurangi, to provide telehealth counselling services for Māori in their iwi, hapu and wider community, and to provide training and accreditation to its practitioners so they too can provide guidance and manaakitanga for impacted family/whānau from a Te Ao Māori perspective.

2023-2024

  • Two people from Tuia Ki Te Ipurangi attended practitioner training.

  • Re-launched website with Te Whare Tapa Whā alignment included more prominently, and including greater use of Māori kupu.

  • Executive Officer engaged in Te Tiriti training with Māori academic.

  • Prioritised relationship building with Māori services.

  • Added te reo to external communications as standard, e.g., job advertisements.

  • Executive Officer engaged in further Te Tiriti training with Māori academic.

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Te Rūnanga Ngā Mataa Waka Marae (source Te Rūnanga Ngā Mataa Waka website).jpg
2025-2026

  • Board, management, and practitioners completed Groundwork Te Tiriti o Waitangi training.

  • Awarded internship to Michelle Page of Te Rūnanga O Ngā Maata Waka.

  • Appointed Joseph Tyro, Ngāi Tahu, with wide Māori health experience, and Klare Bray, experienced in Māori services, as Board members.

  • Marae immersion experience to deepen understanding of tikanga and kawa. 

  • Hui with FDS personnel and Māori representatives to explore practical actions for embedding Te Tiriti principles in FDS strategy and services.

  • Tangata Tiriti Strategy and Action Plan created and adopted.

  • Te Tiriti o Waitangi Policy created and adopted.

  • Review of services for responsiveness and inclusivity.

  • Intern Michelle Page delivered presentation to Te Rūnanga O Ngā Maata Waka.

  • Visit to Te Rūnanga Ngā Mataa Waka Marae.

  • Marae visit and education session at the Tuahiwi Marae, Hosted on behalf of Ngāi Tūāhuriri.

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