Indigenising our Workforce: Recruiting for Cultural Change in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the cultural competencies required for Indigenising New Zealand libraries. Using position descriptions for advertised roles in academic, public, special and research libraries, it reports on the requirements of employers related to knowledge and understanding of four cultural matters related to Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi, te reo Māori (Māori language) skills, experience in using tikanga Māori (Māori customary practice) and knowledge of mātauranga Māori (Māori ways of knowing). Using content analysis, the research identifies that despite an increased interest in providing services and resources to Māori over the last 40 years, advertised positions in New Zealand library and information institutions continue to not include cultural competency in the required skills, attributes and expected experience sections of their position descriptions. Therefore, inhibiting the ability of these institutions to transform themselves into Indigenised institutions, which can fulfil the service and resource needs of Māori.