New Zealand is a diverse country and Inland Revenue needs to reflect the communities we serve. Diversity brings different thinking to our work and better ways of doing things. A diverse and inclusive organisation will enable us to better understand and respond to our customers' needs. The varied perspectives of our people will help us design and deliver the right services for customers.
Our teams are making a significant effort to ensure Inland Revenue is an organisation where people from all walks of life can achieve their full potential. We're listening to communities and developing a tax and social policy system that works for everyone.
Our people have completed training to address unconscious biases, and we've introduced new learning to help people better understand Rainbow communities.
Thriving networks created by our people for different communities give us advice and help user-test products and services for different customer groups.
In Te Taunaki, the Public Service Census 2021, our people said that our inclusive culture is a highlight of working at Inland Revenue, along with the ability to work flexibly. Read more about what we're doing to increase the diversity of our workforce, improve gender equity and make Inland Revenue more inclusive of other communities such as people with disabilities.
- 86% of our people who responded to Te Taunaki believe we support and actively promote an inclusive workplace, compared to 78% of people who work in the Public Service.
- 83% of people say they feel they can be themselves at work, which is on par with people who work in the wider Public Service.
This year, Community Compliance Officer Maree Sanger visited a wānanga (workshop) for pregnant wāhine in Taranaki. She wanted to let them know about our support for parents-to-be, and their whānau, while they’re pregnant and after they have given birth. Once a baby is born, our support includes providing paid parental leave, Best Start new baby payments and Working for Family Tax Credits.
Before she attended the wānanga, Maree sought guidance on te reo Māori and tikanga from our Kaitakawaenga Māori Service. Kaitakawaenga Māori play a critical role connecting Inland Revenue with whanau Māori. Maree joined the parents-to-be as they weaved pūtea (woven bags) to bring home their whenua (placenta) for burial. In te reo, Māori ‘Whenua’ means ‘land’ and ‘placenta’, so when a baby’s placenta is buried, it anchors the person to that land.
At the wānanga, the group discussed how we can go into communities and provide face-to-face tailored services. We’re also happy to visit marae and provide one-on-one tax advice and information. Maree’s experience ignited in her a desire to learn more te reo and tikanga Māori, so she can better support our wāhine and hapū customers.