Presented by Terehia Biddle
Archives New Zealand is committed to providing a responsive service to Māori, the indigenous people of Aotearoa, New Zealand. This commitment is demonstrated in a number of ways. For example, Responsiveness to Māori is a key strategic priority area for Archives New Zealand and is articulated in its strategic and planning documents. Furthermore, Archives New Zealand strives to ensure the active participation of Māori in its decision-making processes and encourages cultural activities and rituals associated with for example, the transfer of government records; prior to occupation, conducting a clearing ceremony of the land site purchased for the purpose of building a new regional office; and engaging and negotiating with local Mana whenua, traditional owners of the land to ensure the opening of the new regional office follow local cultural protocols.
For my presentation, I will draw upon one example of what Archives New Zealand does as a means of raising staff awareness and understanding, of the importance and value Māori place on archives using song as the medium, to teach core Māori values and practices. I am of the Tūhoe tribe and this presentation is one Tūhoe person’s view.