As part of the Government’s commitment under the Public Service Act (2020) to improve outcomes for Māori, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) engaged Gemtech to scope key components and develop the business case for a Cultural Competency Framework. This commitment to recognise Māori as tangata whenua, strengthened their cultural capability, diversity, and inclusion. As part of this commitment, public service leaders were required to build and maintain the capability to engage meaningfully with Māori and understand their perspectives.

Gemtech collaborated closely with FENZ and Te Arawhiti, the Office for Māori Crown Relations, to ensure alignment with existing frameworks when delivering a coordinated approach to building cultural capability across the public sector. Participation in a marae-based wānanga provided a valuable opportunity to listen to kōrero about the meaning of cultural capability and the importance of meaningful engagements. The resulting framework laid a strong foundation for transformational change, positioning FENZ to lead with cultural integrity.