The Service sector is the backbone of Aotearoa’s economy, offering diverse career opportunities. Yet, many essential roles have been undervalued for too long. By uplifting the mana of Service sector workers, we can create meaningful, well-paid careers that benefit individuals, businesses, and communities alike.
Through skills development, career pathways, and support, we can build a resilient, adaptable workforce. When workers thrive, businesses grow, and whānau gain financial security and pride in their roles.
Explore links to resources that will enable you to be part of the movement to create opportunities, uplift mana, and strengthen our communities.
Considerations when building a values-driven, inclusive, and community-connected business that supports its employees’ growth, recognition, and accessibility needs include:
How can my business incorporate values into what we offer and how we operate?
What support is available to assist with kaimahi development?
How can we work closely with local Māori hapu, marae, iwi to build stronger relationships?
How can my business better recognise employee contributions?
How do I provide greater accessibility resources for staff?
Government agencies
Support for employers to improve accessibility in the workplace..
Funding for wages and training | Connected
Training and development funding options for employers.
The Social Value of employment and employee benefit (2014)
Ministry for Primary Industries Paper on the social and economic benefits of employment.
Downloadable resources to assist in the development and use of Te Reo in a variety of workplace settings.
Social enterprises
Te Reo resources | Inspiring Communities
Support and guidance to build Te Ao Māori capability in the workplace.
Wellbeing support for NZ business owners | About First Steps
Support for businesses owners to foster Health & Wellbeing in the workplace.
Our research, conducted in 2022, has highlighted the importance of four intertwining dimensions of resilience in the Service sector
For many people and businesses within the Service sector, the COVID-19 pandemic was incredibly challenging. It is more important than ever before for businesses to actively focus on their workforce. Our research, with a focus on Māori within the Service sector, has found:
Some common questions to consider when creating a workplace that nurtures talent, retains employees—especially younger workers—and amplifies the business’s values to a broader audience include:
What are some career progression and development approaches for kaimahi in my workplace?
Is there support for retention of younger employees and development assistance?
Are there platforms available to promote the values of my business for a wider audience?
Government
Health and Wellness model that shares four pillars in support of personal development and wellbeing.
A variety of career model examples over time in support of kaimahi development and progression.
A high level overview of a government strategy to improve employment outcomes for all New Zealanders.
Promoting the relationship between business and schools.
Funding assistance for employers looking to grow literacy, numeracy and communication skills for their kaimahi.
Social enterprises
Support for employers and businesses to gain accreditation for this.
Business
Youth Ready Employers Auckland Business Chamber
The tools and templates in order to attract and support young workers in their workplace.
Consultancy
Providing advice for small businesses across a wide set of employee matters, from health and safety to policy development and legal obligations.
We want to build a resilient and capable workforce that enables economically, socially, and culturally thriving people, businesses, and communities.
