Maori issues
Without the Māori-Crown Relations ministry Te Arawhiti, Kelvin Davis says Māori results would deteriorate and anger would increase
It has been nearly four years since Te Arawhiti, the Office for Māori Crown Relations, was established to help bridge the gap between government agencies and Māori.
The minister in charge, Kelvin Davis, says the name translates to “bridge” and stems from a vision for Māori and Pākehā to move from one world to another “with ease in and out of languages, cultures and customs”.
While it is an ongoing work in progress to get all public services on board, Davis says there is a desire to do better by Māori and for Māori. “It makes chief executives think very specifically about the outcomes for Māori in terms of the work they do,” he said.
At a professional development meeting of 600 officials, not long after the ministry was established, Davis was blunt when he outlined his expectations.
“I said I don’t care where you are on that bridge, as long as you’re willing to step on it, and if you’re not willing, I doubt your place in public service.”
Davis said he feared he had gone too far at the time, but he received a lot of feedback that the bridge vision had helped establish what they were trying to achieve.
“It’s not about Te Arawhiti solving all the problems of the other agencies, but helping them to participate in the right way … and so Māori don’t have to constantly justify our worldview to government agencies.”
“They see us as a shining example, but we’re not perfect.”
– Kelvin Davis
Davis accepts that within the public service there will be some, including chief executives, who are not entirely convinced of the government’s view of Te Arawhiti.
“I think most are on board, but probably still hesitant, a little anxious, and there are probably some who think they’re already doing well with Māori – but if you ask Māori, they’ll say it’s not as good as they make out.”
The ministry has found its place in the public service, Davis told Newsroom, and if it were demolished under a future government, he says Māori would suffer.
“I think other agencies appreciate the support that Te Arawhiti is giving and if it were removed they would be in trouble. We would see results for the Māori backslide and the Māori’s anger rising.”
Davis points to examples where Te Arawhiti has done the behind-the-scenes work but has purposely stayed out of the limelight when it comes to the acknowledgments.
Creating the Matariki holiday and bringing the country together with events to mark it was an example of Te Arawhiti “playing a role in the background to get it where it was and make everyone shine on the day, and that is how it should be”.
Davis also acknowledged the work the ministry has done to improve relations at Waitangi commemorations in Northland following the “mess” of 2017, with some political leaders boycotting the day and public feuds over who should and should not speak at events.
“It didn’t look good for Ngāpuhi and I said this needs to be resolved. Over the years, Te Arawhiti has been at the forefront, but also in the background.
“Now at Waitangi you have the media saying there’s not much to report because it’s going so well – that’s a sign of success,” he said.
There have been 10,000 settlement commitments to date, and some of Te Arawhiti’s work has gone through all of them and assigned them to the appropriate body for action.
“Every minister now knows how many commitments they have and there is a database that everyone can access to see how things are going.”
Davis says each agency is now responsible for making sure it meets those commitments and iwi, hapū and whānau have an easy way to monitor progress and see the different timelines for how that will be done.
“I said I don’t care where you are on that bridge, as long as you’re willing to step on it, and if you’re not willing, I doubt your place in public service.” -Kelvin Davis
New Zealand has been navigating a treaty partnership for 182 years, and Davis said other countries are now seeking help to start their own processes with indigenous peoples.
“We still have a way to go, we’re not perfect.”
He visited Australia six weeks ago and since his return has continued talks about how the country could formalize its own treaty with First Nations communities.
“They’re really struggling with it, and I said, 182 years later, we’re still fixing mistakes, but you’re at this most incredible moment in your country’s history — you’re in the moment of time, I wish that I was going in 182 years — so don’t stuff it full,” Davis said.
The advice for Australia is “as much about what not to do as about what to do”.
“They see us as a shining example, but we’re not perfect,” Davis said.