Enhance leadership and participation: People engaged in their communities
Rangatiratanga was used in Article 2 of the Māori language version of the Treaty to convey the idea of unqualified exercise of Māori chieftainship over their lands, villages and all their treasures.
Rangatiratanga is often associated with sovereignty, leadership, autonomy to make decisions, and self-determination. This includes leadership within the whānau and community, as well as leadership within business and politics.
Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau are exercising Rangatiratanga in organisations and communities, in democratic processes and in the economy. As examples, Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau are asserting their right to vote in local body elections and there are high proportions employed in management positions, compared to Māori nationally.
Take a look at the headline Rangatiratanga indicators for Tāmaki Makaurau across the four cultural, social, economic and environmental pou below. You can also download the full Rangatiratanga report and read about this value in more detail.
Rangatiratanga in the cultural sphere relates to stewardship of others, advocating for others and the community, doing the right thing for their people and ensuring wellbeing and generosity of spirit.
Source: Ministry of Education schooling data (customised). By ethnicity
Poari Whakahaere – Board of Trustees – are entrusted to work on behalf of all stakeholders and are accountable for the school’s performance. Active participation by Māori parents in planning, development and delivery of education services will help to ensure that those services are appropriate and effective for Māori students.
Māori parent representatives on school boards in Tāmaki Makaurau have increased in the last 10 years but has not changed much since 2013.
Rangatiratanga in the social sphere is about empowering and providing people with the tools and skills to improve their circumstances and to participate in decision-making.
Source: Auckland Council, Research and Evaluation Unit and the Electoral Commission (customised data). By descent
Voting in local elections is important. There are a range of decision-making powers relating to resource planning and consents that are undertaken by local government (for example) that affect Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau.
In 2013, it was estimated that the Māori economy had an asset base of Auckland Māori entities and businesses of about $23 billion. This is set to grow as more Tāmaki Makaurau Iwi finalise their Treaty settlements.
By managing, leading and investing in Māori entities, organisations and companies, Māori are able to have autonomy – by Māori, for Māori.
Source: Stats NZ, Census (customised). By descent
Māori participation and leadership across all economic sectors enhances economic development for Tāmaki Makaurau rohe. This indicator highlights representation of Māori in positions of influence and leadership in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
Māori in the northern and central Local Boards are more likely to be employed as managers than Māori in the south.
In relation to the environment, Rangatiratanga is about caring for wāhī tapu and wāhī taonga (sacred places and objects) and ensuring co-governance and co-management of natural resources. This in turn ensures that rangatahi and the community know the history of the land and reserves that surround them, and that the land is safe, appreciated and used.
Source: Auckland Council and Auckland Council annual reports
Co-governance arrangements between Māori and Auckland Council, or Iwi and the Crown, allow for more direct influence and greater exercise of authority by Mana Whenua over natural resources.
Source: Auckland Council and Auckland Council annual reports
In the Rangatiratanga report, we discuss how Māori are increasingly applying rangatiratanga in their own organisations and communities, in democratic processes and in the economy.
The report confirms rangatahi (youth) leadership as an expression of rangatiratanga and a pre-condition for succession planning, and identifies the use of mātauranga Māori in resource management planning as an opportunity to strengthen rangatiratanga.
Download and read the Rangatiratanga Report below:
