Our commitment:

Fire and Emergency New Zealand recognises the status of Māori as tangata whenua and, as such, the importance of Māori communities as key stakeholders in Fire and Emergency’s work.

We recognise:

• Iwi and Māori as community leaders with an important role to play in preventing fires and other emergencies, building community resilience, and informing emergency response
• Iwi as our partners in risk reduction as significant and growing land and forest owners 
• Māori are disproportionately affected by unwanted fires, and that needs to change.

By committing to work with tangata whenua we contribute to a safer environment not only for Māori but for all New Zealand communities.

We will do this by building strong relationships that enable us to engage with iwi and Māori as we design and deliver services. This will require us to engage in culturally appropriate ways. We will strengthen our cultural capability, diversity and inclusion, so that we better reflect and engage with the communities we serve.

Through our work, Māori experience improved fire safety, less harm from fire and emergencies and are more resilient communities.

We will realise this through a Māori outcomes programme so that we, over time:  

• have strong and productive relationships that recognise the vital role iwi play as our partners in risk reduction, and the importance of iwi being involved in managing the affairs of Māori and the broader communities they are part of
• ensure Māori views are included when communities identify their risks and needs
• encourage Māori to actively contribute to the design and implementation of Fire and Emergency initiatives, including by enabling opportunities for Māori participation
• coordinate across the emergency sector and other government agencies to deliver improved services for Māori 
• have increased cultural capability across the organisation, reflected in our policy, emergency service delivery, and fire reduction and prevention programmes
• recognise and value skills, capability and networks in Tikanga Māori through our recruitment, retention and promotion at all levels of the organisation.

This Māori outcomes programme will be driven from our organisational leaders, guided by iwi and Māori.

Ko te pae tawhiti, whāia kia tata. Ko te pae tata, whakamaua kia tina.
Pursue distant goals until they are within your reach. Once in reach, hold and treasure them.