Cultural Responsiveness
Cultural responsiveness is the ability of a financial mentor to recognise, respect, and respond appropriately to the cultural values, beliefs, and practices of their clients. It ensures services are inclusive, relevant, and effective for people from diverse backgrounds, including Māori, Pasifika, and other cultural groups in Aotearoa.
| Key Aspect | What It Involves |
| Respect and understanding | acknowledge cultural differences and show respect for clients’ identities and worldviews. |
| Tailored communication | adapt language, examples, and approaches to align with cultural norms and preferences. |
| Inclusive practices | ensure mentoring processes, tools, and resources are accessible and meaningful for clients from all backgrounds. |
| Partnership approach | engage with clients and whānau through shared decision-making and a focus on collective wellbeing. |
Cultural responsiveness ensures financial mentoring is fair, effective, and empowering for all clients, fostering trust and stronger outcomes.
The Treaty of Waitangi guides practice through partnership, equity, and protection of Māori rights. Financial mentors in Aotearoa must understand and apply its principles, support Māori-led solutions, acknowledge the impacts of colonisation on financial wellbeing, and incorporate tikanga Māori appropriately.
We therefore uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi and respond appropriately to the cultural needs and values of all communities we serve.
In practice, this means:
- understanding and applying Te Tiriti articles and principles in our work
- recognising the ongoing impacts of colonisation on the financial wellbeing of tangata whenua
- adapting our approaches to align with diverse cultural values and practices
- seeking cultural guidance and support when required.