Te Tiriti o Waitangi

  1. Te Rōpū Whakahau advocates for the recognition and implementation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the information industry
  2. Te Tiriti o Waitangi was honoured by both Māori and non-Māori in 1840 and should continue to be honoured today as it describes the nature of Māori and non-Māori rights in New Zealand
  3. If there are any discrepancies or ambiguity in interpreting the Tiriti because of the two versions, Māori and English, then the indigenous version of the Tiriti shall prevail
  4. The articles of the Treaty should guide organisations in terms of collection management and in the provision of services for Māori

Te Reo Māori

  1. Te Rōpū Whakahau advocates for the recognition and implementation of the Māori language in the information industry
  2. Te reo Māori is the indigenous language of New Zealand and was made an official language of New Zealand in 1987
  3. An increasing number of New Zealanders are speakers of te reo Māori so information organisations should be able to provide their services in both English and Māori

Ngā Ūpoko Tukutuku, Māori subject headings

Māori Subject Headings | Ngā Upoko Tukutuku is a list of Māori language subject terms that enables quality access and findability for te reo Māori language users and Te Ao Māori thinkers to items held in any collection, and is a valuable resource for all industries.

Māori Intellectual and Cultural Property Rights

  1. Te Rōpū Whakahau advocates for the recognition and implementation of Māori rights to their intellectual and cultural property
  2. These rights are affirmed to Māori under the second article of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
  3. These rights are affirmed to Māori as tangata whenua or as the first peoples who settled in Aotearoa and who were a separate nation before Te Tiriti o Waitangi with their own sovereign rights
  4. These rights are affirmed under the Mataatua Declaration on Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples

New Zealand Digital Strategy

  1. Te Rōpū Whakahau urges the New Zealand Government Department, the Ministry of Economic Development to recognise Te Rōpū Whakahau position statements relating to the New Zealand Digital Strategy
  2. Te Rōpū Whakahau advocates for the improvement of Māori information literacy which is at a slower rate of improvement than that of non-Māori
  3. Te Rōpū Whakahau advocates for free and greater access for Māori to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), to ICT learning initiatives and to information products and services
  4. Te Rōpū Whakahau advocates for the use of Māori service providers in the provision of access for Māori to ICT, to ICT learning initiatives and to information products and services
  5. Te Rōpū Whakahau advocates for further funding and professional support to Māori service providers in the provision of access for Māori to ICT, to ICT learning initiatives and to information products and services
  6. Te Rōpū Whakahau advocates for free and greater access for Māori people and communities to ICT, ICT learning initiatives, funding and professional advice in the production of their own information products and services
  7. Te Rōpū Whakahau advocates for the creation of a uniquely New Zealand digital framework which is based on our unique perspective in accessing information and is supplied with unique New Zealand content
  8. Te Rōpū Whakahau strongly advocates for the bi-cultural management of the digital framework and its content
  9. Te Rōpū Whakahau advocates for the meaningful use of the Tiriti o Waitangi in the Digital Strategy

National Digital Forum (Aotearoa New Zealand)

Te Rōpū Whakahau:

  1. Advocates for the appropriate use of Māori information and knowledge in digital projects
  2. Promotes digital projects and developments which benefit Māori communities and support the revitalisation of Māori people and culture

Professional registration (Aotearoa New Zealand)

Te Rōpū Whakahau endorses the professional registration of librarians and other information professionals in Aotearoa New Zealand, providing that recognition is given to:

  1. Māori and tikanga Māori
  2. the Diploma and Bachelor of Māori Information Management as professional information management qualifications
  3. the partnership between LIANZA and Te Rōpū Whakahau
  4. the partnership within Te Tiriti o Waitangi

International Indigenous Librarians’ Forum

  1. Relationships
    • Te Rōpū Whakahau is proud to be associated with indigenous peoples around the world who desire an indigenous only organisation of library, archives and information workers
  2. Lobbying and advocacy
    • Te Rōpū Whakahau endorses the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
    • Te Rōpū Whakahau endorses the Mataatua Declaration
    • Te Rōpū Whakahau endorses these forum statements from the International Indigenous Librarians’ Forum held in Jokkmokk, Sweden, 2001:
      • The indigenous librarians of this forum recognise the importance of language in relation to cultural identity and will inspire progress within our professions, whilst advocating for self determination and control of indigenous knowledge.
      • This forum proposes that international guidelines and protocols be developed to guide libraries, archives and other information providers to assure that culturally responsive practices for indigenous people are implemented in their environment, services, programme, collections and staffing.
      • We as indigenous librarians affirm our commitment to utilise our collective skills, values and expertise in both cultural and professional spheres to strengthen indigenous youth.
      • As indigenous librarians, we state that the use of intellectual and cultural property in any medium, especially in light of the global instantaneous impact of the electronic environment, without the approval of all appropriate indigenous authorities is unacceptable.
  3. Forum delivery
    • Te Rōpū Whakahau strongly advocates for the provision of indigenous only fora to ensure a safe and easy environment for indigenous people to network, learn and consolidate as a people
  4. Conduct
    • Te Rōpū Whakahau strongly recommends all New Zealand delegates conduct themselves in an appropriate manner as they may be seen as representing Te Rōpū Whakahau, Aotearoa – New Zealand and/or Māori
    • Te Rōpū Whakahau strongly recommends all New Zealand delegates uphold the kawa and tikanga of Māori in a professional manner at all times when visiting other areas or abroad
    • Te Rōpū Whakahau strongly recommends all New Zealand delegates respect the kawa and tikanga of others at all times when visiting other areas or abroad
  5. Acknowledgement
    • Te Rōpū Whakahau acknowledges the work and support of non-indigenous colleagues working for indigenous communities within the information sector
    • Te Rōpū Whakahau strongly advocates for non-indigenous colleagues working for indigenous communities within the information sector to have access to forum proceedings
    • Te Rōpū Whakahau strongly advises non-indigenous colleagues working for indigenous communities within the information sector to lobby and advocate within their own non-indigenous communities for the aims of the International Indigenous Librarians’ Forum