Tui Tuia (Māori Cultural Advisory Committee)

Purpose

The purpose of the Māori Cultural Board Advisory Sub-Committee is to:

• Provide advice to the NZDSN Board on te reo and tikanga Māori
• Support NZDSN with tikanga Māori practices and te reo Māori translations
• Provide comment and recommendations on matters of NZDSN policy and practice to improve cultural responsiveness to Māori
• Support and strengthen engagement between NZDSN members and mana whenua in their respective regions
• Build the knowledge of the needs of Māori staff and clients within the NZDSN membership and how these needs can best be met

The group is an advisory committee that can make recommendations to NZDSN, but does not have decision making authority.

Responsibilities

Members are required to:

• Attend bi-monthly advisory committee meetings regularly via VCR and/or telephone (NB the VCR will be provided, without fee, by Te Roopu Taurima in Whangarei, Auckland, Waikato and Rangiora)
• Work on project teams and/or working groups between meetings
• Feed information from the advisory committee to their networks and bring Māori issues and ideas to the Advisory committee
• Assist NZDSN to canvas Māori views from the NZDSN membership
• Members will be expected to be prepared and on time for meetings
• Cover their own costs for participating in the advisory committee

Membership

The Advisory Committee will comprise of a maximum of six members from within NZDSN, including a board appointed convener who shall also be a current board member or will be appointed as co-opted.

Members need to:

• be conversant with the tikanga of their Iwi
• have a working knowledge of te reo Māori
• have the ability to work with other people and work in a team
• demonstrate leadership
• be proactive
• be committed to attending meetings regularly
• be nominated by the CEO of their disability support organisation.

It is expected that the membership will provide broad representation, with consideration given to:

• gender
• age
• lived experience of an impairment
• geographical location
• type of disability sector knowledge and experience

Registrations of Interest

NZDSN and the Chair of the Māori Cultural Advisory Committee invites you to register interest by nominating one of your staff for a position on the committee.  The purpose of the Committee is to:

• Provide advice to the NZDSN Board on te reo and tikanga Māori
• Support NZDSN with tikanga Māori practices and te reo Māori translations
• Provide comment and recommendations on matters of NZDSN policy and practice to improve cultural responsiveness to Māori
• Support and strengthen engagement between NZDSN members and mana whenua in their respective regions
• Build the knowledge of the cultural needs of Māori staff and clients within the NZDSN membership and provide support to NZDSN members to meet identified needs.

Members will need to:

• be conversant with the tikanga of their Iwi
• have a working knowledge of te reo Māori
• work well in a team
• demonstrate leadership
• be proactive and committed
• be nominated by the CEO, or Board Chairperson, of their disability support organisation.
• bring a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the constitution of NZDSN.

If you are interested in being nominated for or nominating a person to be part of this sub-committee, please contact admin@NZDSN.org.nz.

If you have any questions you can direct these to the Chair of the Advisory Committee, Colene Herbert, by email, Colene.Herbert@ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz or by phoning Colene Herbert on 027 561 4341 or 06 867 1249  

Reference Links

To find further te reo and tikanga resources, to go to Te Roopu Taurima’s site.

Maori Resources
Maori Resources

Positions

The NZDSN Board will appoint a Chair and Deputy Chair.

The role of the Chair is to:

• work with the Advisory committee to compile the agenda
• run the meeting according to the set agenda
• take notes at all meetings, type notes and distribute meeting notes within one week of the advisory committee meetings
• let all members know of up and coming events and meetings
• facilitate the development and implementation of the advisory committee’s annual workplan
• Liaise with the NZDSN Kaumatua for his/her input as required

In the absence of the Chair, the Deputy Chair will run the meeting.

Removal

If an advisory committee member misses more than three meetings in a row without providing an apology, their membership on the advisory committee will cease.

Term of Appointment

Any person appointed to the Advisory Committee shall be appointed for two years.

If an advisory committee member resigns during the year, the advisory committee is able to co-opt new members for the remainder of the year.

Meet Our Team

Colene Herbert
Committee Chairperson

I hail from a little slice of paradise on the East Coast of the North Island…Ruatorea

I grew up truly walking in the fusion of Māori and Pakeha world views, fortunate to have Māori and English heritage. As the last of seven children, I learnt the value of sharing and contribution for the greater good. I also grew in the richness of having a sibling with a learning disability. To say his presence in my life influenced my career pathway is an understatement.

I have worked for 40 years in the disability sector in a variety of roles and for a number of providers. My career started with the Psychopaedic nursing programme at Mangere Hospital and Training School in South Auckland as a 17 year old and has culminated in my inclusion in the CCS Disability Action whānau in 2017. All of my experiences in the varying roles have prepared me well to support sector capacity, effectiveness and best practise. I have a demonstrated commitment to supporting people with a disability to live their best life and I would be very pleased to represent disabled people, their families and providers in a governance role within NZDSN.

I have had the privilege of chairing Tui Tuia since 2022

Nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa

Committee Members

Graham Warren
NZDSN Kaumatua

Graham Warren was appointed NZDSN’s official kaumatua in February 2019. Graham has been involved in an informal capacity with NZDSN for some years now providing advice and cultural leadership to our business in a wide variety of capacities from Board meetings through to our annual conferences.

Graham has had a long history with ACC, starting in 1976 in a front line role at the Wellington Regional Office and moving across the Cultural Services Team, and Claims & Management Operations Groups. Graham has worked on the concept of Tika and Whaia Te Tika programmes.  He finished his role with ACC as the National Manager, Cultural Services.Graham brings a wealth of experience to NZDSN and is a learned counsel on all matters cultural.

---

Taki Peeke
IDEA Services