How to Build Meaningful Iwi Partnerships: A Step-by-Step Guide

In Aotearoa, New Zealand, the significance of iwi (tribes) and hapū (sub-tribes) partnerships continues to grow as businesses seek to engage meaningfully with Māori communities. Whether you're working on a project that impacts iwi land, or you’re looking to create long-term, culturally respectful relationships, it’s essential to understand the importance of these partnerships.

This guide will walk you through practical steps to engage and foster meaningful relationships with iwi, ensuring that your approach is respectful, beneficial, and sustainable for all involved.

Why Iwi Engagement Matters

Iwi engagement is much more than ticking a box for compliance. It’s about building trust, respect, and creating opportunities for collaboration that benefit both Māori communities and your business.

New Zealand businesses increasingly understand that iwi are key stakeholders in projects involving natural resources, cultural heritage, or land. As kaitiaki (guardians), iwi play a significant role in the protection and stewardship of these resources. Engaging with them early and with respect can lead to stronger, more sustainable outcomes for your business and the communities you work with.

Step 1: Do Your Research

Before reaching out to an iwi or hapū, it’s essential to do your homework. Understanding the historical, cultural, and political background of the iwi you’re looking to engage with shows that you respect their role as kaitiaki and acknowledge their place in Aotearoa’s history.

What to Research:

Iwi history: Learn about the iwi’s origin, significant events, and their connection to the land.
Leadership structure: Familiarise yourself with the governance and decision-making processes within the iwi.
Current projects or concerns: Be aware of ongoing initiatives or potential issues that may influence the iwi’s priorities.

Why it’s Important: Doing your research shows that you’re serious about building a meaningful partnership and that you respect the iwi’s autonomy and place within New Zealand society.

Step 2: Approach with Humility and Respect

When reaching out to iwi, approach them as partners, not just stakeholders. Māori culture places a strong emphasis on relationships (whanaungatanga) and reciprocity. Your engagement should focus on long-term relationship building, not just the immediate project at hand.

Best Practices for Initial Contact:

Formal communication: If possible, begin by making formal contact through a letter or email, acknowledging the iwi’s role and expressing your interest in engaging.
Seek guidance: If unsure, consider seeking guidance from Māori advisors or cultural consultants to ensure your approach is appropriate and culturally sensitive.
Show willingness to learn: Acknowledge that you may not fully understand the intricacies of Māori culture, but express your openness to learning and listening.

Why it’s Important: Humility is key when engaging with iwi. Māori culture values respect and reciprocity, and approaching with humility sets a positive tone for future interactions.

Step 3: Build Genuine Relationships

Building meaningful iwi partnerships takes time. It’s not enough to have one meeting or consultation – you must actively nurture the relationship over time. This involves regular communication, transparency, and genuine collaboration.

Ways to Build Relationships:

Kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) meetings: Whenever possible, meet in person. Face-to-face communication is highly valued in Māori culture and is essential for building trust.
Whakawhanaungatanga (relationship building): Invest time in building personal connections with iwi members. Attend iwi events and invite them to yours.
Ongoing engagement: Even if your project ends, consider maintaining contact with the iwi. Regular communication and collaboration show that you value the long-term relationship, not just the immediate project.

Why it’s Important: Whanaungatanga emphasises building personal connections. Taking time to build these relationships establishes trust, which is crucial for meaningful and enduring partnerships.

Step 4: Understand and Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) is New Zealand’s founding document and forms the basis for relationships between Māori and the Crown. Understanding Te Tiriti and how it relates to your business is critical when engaging with iwi.

Key Principles to Understand:

Partnership: Work with iwi as equal partners in decision-making processes.
Participation: Ensure that iwi have the opportunity to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect them, particularly when it comes to resource management or development.
Protection: Commit to protecting Māori culture, land, and taonga (treasures), and ensure that your business actions do not harm iwi interests.

Why it’s Important: Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi is not only a legal obligation but also a moral one. Demonstrating a genuine commitment to its principles reinforces your intention to engage in a respectful and meaningful way.

Step 5: Foster Transparent and Inclusive Dialogue

Open and honest communication is essential for any successful partnership. Keep iwi informed at every stage of your project, and ensure that they have ample opportunity to provide input. Transparency helps avoid misunderstandings and builds trust over time.

Best Practices for Communication:

Provide regular updates: Keep iwi informed about the progress of the project and any changes that may affect them.
Incorporate feedback: Ensure that iwi feedback is considered in decision-making processes and that their concerns are addressed.
Respect different perspectives: Māori perspectives on land, water, and resources often differ from Western approaches. Be open to these differences and willing to incorporate them into your project.

Why it’s Important: Iwi will feel more valued as partners if their views are respected and their input is reflected in project outcomes. Open dialogue fosters mutual understanding and trust.

Step 6: Recognise and Celebrate Māori Culture

Engaging with iwi is not just about business transactions – it’s also an opportunity to celebrate and respect Māori culture. Incorporating Māori values, language, and practices into your business and project processes can enrich your partnership and demonstrate your commitment to honouring the culture.

Ways to Celebrate Māori Culture:

Use te reo Māori: Incorporate te reo Māori in your communications, signage, and official documents where appropriate.
Acknowledge tikanga (Māori customs): Respect and integrate Māori customs, such as mihi (greetings) or pōwhiri (welcoming ceremonies) at the start of meetings or events.
Celebrate Māori events: Participate in or support significant Māori cultural events, such as Matariki or Waitangi Day.

Why it’s Important: Celebrating Māori culture shows that you respect the values and traditions that are important to iwi. It also demonstrates that your engagement is more than just transactional – it’s about fostering mutual respect and cultural understanding.

Conclusion: Building Lasting Iwi Partnerships

Meaningful iwi engagement is about more than compliance – it’s about forging genuine relationships that are built on respect, trust, and shared values. By doing your research, approaching with humility, and fostering ongoing collaboration, you can create partnerships that benefit both your business and the communities you work with.

By respecting Māori culture, understanding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and committing to long-term relationship-building, you set the foundation for successful, respectful, and enduring iwi partnerships.