Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Practice

Putting Te Tiriti o Waitangi into practice means actively applying the principles of partnership, participation, and protection in the way financial mentors work with Māori clients, whānau, and communities. It moves beyond theory into everyday behaviours, decisions, and service design.

In practical terms, Te Tiriti in financial mentoring may include:

• asking clients how they wish to involve whānau in sessions
• incorporating te reo Māori and tikanga in interactions where appropriate
• understanding Māori money concepts like collective responsibility, koha, or whānau obligations
• advocating for Māori clients facing systemic barriers in housing, benefits, or debt; and
• reflecting on your own practice to reduce bias and improve cultural safety.

As a financial mentor you will: 

• understand and apply Te Tiriti articles and principles in all aspects of practice
• recognise and respond to the ongoing impacts of colonisation on financial wellbeing
• support tangata whenua and tangata tiriti self-determination in financial decision making; and
• incorporate tikanga Māori appropriately when working with Māori clients.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi in practice means delivering financial mentoring that honours Māori identity, supports equitable outcomes, and respects the rights of Māori as tangata whenua. It is about working with Māori, not just for Māori, in ways that uphold partnership, participation, and protection.