A new report from Stats NZ has revealed that Māori businesses are leading the way in offering wellbeing support and flexible work options compared to their counterparts across New Zealand. The data, gathered from a survey conducted between August and November 2023, shows a significant emphasis on employee wellbeing in Māori enterprises.
According to the report, 82% of Māori authorities and 77% of other Māori businesses provided mental health and wellbeing support, such as access to counselling services. This is notably higher than the 53% reported across all New Zealand businesses. Additionally, around two-thirds of Māori businesses offered support for physical health, such as vision tests, compared to 48% of all New Zealand businesses.
“These statistics likely reflect the importance Māori businesses place on their staff’s personal wellbeing and hauora,” said Geraldine Duoba, Tatauranga umanga Māori manager.
Flexible work options are another area where Māori businesses show strong performance. The report highlighted that 85% of Māori authorities and 83% of other Māori enterprises provided flexible working hours, and 80% of Māori authorities and 77% of other Māori enterprises offered part-time work options. This is similar to the proportion of all New Zealand businesses providing these benefits, with 81% offering flexible hours and 77% offering part-time work.
The report also noted that 64% of Māori authorities and 53% of other Māori enterprises provided the option to work from home, compared to 43% of all New Zealand businesses.
In terms of formal policies and actions towards equitable outcomes, Māori businesses also stand out: 43% of other Māori enterprises had policies promoting diversity and inclusion, significantly higher than the 29% observed across all New Zealand businesses.
Moreover, Māori authorities were proactive in encouraging employee representation in health and safety issues and preventing workplace bullying.
However, the report also highlighted disparities within the sector. Māori authorities in primary industries were less likely to offer flexible work or support options, with only 50% providing such benefits compared to 71% in other industries. Similarly, just 36% of Māori authorities in primary industries had formal policies promoting equitable outcomes, compared to 52% in other industries.
Do you have something to say about the results of the recent survey? Let us know in the comments below.
