Kupu whakataki me ngā kupu whakapuare

ANZ New Zealand wants to be a contemporary company in an Aotearoa New Zealand that better reflects and can respond to the cultural diversity of the workforce, customer base and country. So having a Te Ao Māori Strategy is critical to the future performance of the organisation.

Tākiri-ā-Rangi, ANZ New Zealand’s Te Ao Māori Strategy, marks an important step in the development of our bank.

The name Tākiri-ā-Rangi was gifted by the Bishop of Tai Tokerau, Kito Pikaahu. He was reminded of a karakia his tūpuna Ngāmanu, a rangatira of Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kaharau, Ngāti Hau and Te Uri O Rorokai, who welcomed and embraced the Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

In response to signing Te Tiriti o Waitangi, rangatira Ngāmanu delivered the karakia, focusing on the hope, and opportunity it represented for Māori and Pākehā, and all those who would later arrive to Aotearoa New Zealand.

However, over the past 183 years, Māori, hapū and iwi have suffered much loss and grieved greatly. In the Waitangi Tribunal we hear the voices and see the tears of many whānau. They recount transgressions against them, their hapū and iwi. Since the mid-1980s, Māori, hapū and iwi have been on an inspiring journey, reclaiming their reo, tikanga, and their social, cultural, spiritual and economic well-being.

Tākiri-ā-Rangi is the expansive universe above. It is the inspiration we receive when we look up and consider what the future holds.

With only 17 years until the 200th anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Tākiri-ā-Rangi sets our course as a bank inspired by the hopes and aspirations of all. There is much for us to do to grow our nation together and protect the environment (taiao) of Aotearoa New Zealand for future generations.

Being the country’s oldest bank and one of its oldest companies we believe we have a big part to play in Aotearoa New Zealand’s success. As the country has grown so has ANZ New Zealand, and we want to play that important role together with Māori, hapū and iwi to grow our nation.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Āku mihi nui rawa atu ki a koutou ngā manukura ngā whatukura, e te tā, e te tī. He honore tēnei ki ahau te raukura ō ANZ NZ ki te mihi atu ki a koutou. Ka tika ki te mihi atu ki a rātou kua mene atu ki te pō, hoki wairua e, hoki wairua e. Rātou ki a rātou, tātou ngā kanohi ora ki a tātou. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

For almost as long as ANZ New Zealand has existed, we have proudly supported the aspirations of Māori, hapū and iwi – individuals, communities and businesses. One of the characteristics I have admired greatly is that Māori values inspire a longer-term view.

Intergenerational responsibility encourages many Māori to think deeply about how activities today will benefit future generations.

There’s much more we can learn and it’s time to take the next step. To fully understand the needs of our Māori customers and partners, we must deepen our understanding of the values that are intrinsic to Māori.

This approach is fundamental to the bank we’re building for all customers. That’s why we are proud to have developed Tākiri-ā-Rangi, ANZ New Zealand’s Te Ao Māori Strategy. I am excited about where it will lead us.

The late Sir James Henare said: 

“Kua tāwhiti kē tō haerenga mai kia kore e haere tonu. Tino nui rawa ōu mahi e kore e mahi nui tonu.”

“We have gone too far not to go further. We have done too much not to do more.”

There is much for us to do and we look forward to the journey ahead as we at ANZ New Zealand lead this dynamic change for us as a bank and as a nation.

Mauri ora

Antonia Watson

Chief Executive Officer
ANZ New Zealand