Māori Network

The Māori name for the New Zealand Customs Service is 'Te Mana Ārai o Aoteoroa' and means 'The authority that screens and protects New Zealand'.

Within Te Mana Ārai there is a group of staff called 'The Māori Network', the Māori name for which is 'Te Whatunga Mana Ārai Maori o Aoteoroa'.  This formal grouping of predominately Māori staff has been active since the early 1990s and today consists of members from most of Customs' offices around New Zealand, with greater numbers working in the Auckland area.

The Network's objectives are:

• to help the Service to meet its responsibilities to Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi and the Principles for Crown action attributed thereto
• to promote, protect and develop understanding of tikanga (cultural beliefs and practices) and te reo (Māori language)
• to promote a sense of whakawhanaungatanga (family relationships) and belonging to Customs' Māori staff
• to help Māori staff achieve their full employment potential in the Service

Regional kaumatua (elders) assist the Network in its activities as required.

If you have any queries relating to Customs' Māori network activities, contact the Principal Advisor Māori, Iti Paenga, on +64-4-462 0277.