Taking Accountability and Making Tracks:
Our Te Tiriti Journey
Our CEO, David Morrison shares our commitment to being a uniquely Aotearoa based payroll service, giving mana to Te Tiriti o Waitangi through genuine, equitable relationships with Māori.
We are on a journey…
In 2023 Thankyou Payroll started a process to better understand how, as a private company in Aotearoa, we could do better to support the world of Māori and improve our cultural understanding, capability and competency.
With the help of Nathan and Rhea from Riki Consultancy (our guiding stars) we have been able to draw a picture of where the gaps are and what we can and should be doing to foster genuine, equitable relationships with Māori. We have a lot to learn and to unlearn and we’re immensely grateful to Riki Consultancy for creating such an encouraging and safe space for us to ask questions and make mistakes.
Now that the path has been drawn, we’re starting to make tracks. It’s only just the beginning but we’re entirely committed to making and embedding change across our business whilst continuing to deliver an exceptional payroll service for our customers.
What does this path look like? Here are some of the kaupapa we are working towards as an organisation.
David Morrison, CEO of Thankyou Payroll
A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
At the heart of our journey is recognition and respect for Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This foundational document is not only a historical agreement, but a living framework for honourable governance, self determination and equity between the Crown and Māori. As citizens of Aotearoa we recognise the significance of Te Tiriti, and have committed to weaving its articles into the fabric of our business operations.
Nathan Riki from Riki Consultancy presenting to our team
Celebrating cultural diversity
Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural diversity is a treasure that Thankyou Payroll aims to celebrate and preserve. By embracing this diversity, the company not only enriches its own organisational culture but also contributes to the wider societal recognition of Aotearoa’s unique heritage. Thankyou Payroll’s initiatives aim to foster an environment where cultural exchange and cooperation are valued, and where every interaction is an opportunity to learn from and appreciate the richness of different cultures.
Building equitable relationships
Understanding the importance of equitable relationships, we are embarking on a journey to engage with Māori in a meaningful way. We acknowledge that it is important for us to have greater cultural capability and competence in order for any engagement to go beyond the superficial. We aim for authentic interactions that respect Māori as tangata whenua (people of the land) and acknowledge their unique place in Aotearoa. Through this approach, Thankyou Payroll seeks to build partnerships that are based on mutual respect, understanding, and shared values.
Upholding sustainability and social impact
Thankyou Payroll places a strong emphasis on environmental stewardship and social impact. Our approach aligns closely to the Māori concept of kaitiakitanga, or guardianship, over the natural world, and demonstrates Thankyou Payroll’s commitment to not only doing business responsibly but also contributing positively to the community and the planet.
David and Heather tree planting in Conversation Week 2023
Inspiring change beyond business
Thankyou Payroll’s journey is about more than providing a payroll service; it’s about inspiring others to embrace the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in their own lives and operations. By leading by example, Thankyou Payroll hopes to encourage other businesses and individuals to reflect on their own practices and consider how they too can contribute to a more equitable, inclusive, and culturally rich society.
Watch this space
Our journey to becoming a uniquely Aotearoa payroll service is an effort that integrates cultural respect, environmental stewardship, and social impact into the core of its business. By giving mana to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and fostering genuine, equitable relationships with Māori, we not only offer a great payroll service but also contribute to the advancement of a more equitable and inclusive Aotearoa. We look forward to sharing our journey with you.
The Thankyou Payroll Team at our annual Staff Hui in May 2023