Inland Revenue- Te Tari Taake
Building on a long-standing partnership, Haemata supported Inland Revenue to scope, design, and deliver Te Awatea, a multi-year cultural capability programme strengthening Treaty-informed practice and workforce confidence.
The Opportunity
Inland Revenue identified the need to strengthen organisational capability to support its Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi strategic direction. This included building staff confidence to engage appropriately, understand key foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand’s history and responsibilities, and apply learning in day-to-day work.
The programme needed to be practical, scalable, and aligned to public service expectations, while supporting staff across different stages of learning and experience.
Haemata contributed to Te Awatea across two key levels:
(1) programme design and scoping, and
(2) delivery of learning assets and tools, over a 2.5-year development cycle.
Te Awatea was designed as a cultural capability development programme with four levels of capability, aligned to the Whāinga Amorangi framework, enabling clear progression for learners.
Foundation and Comfortable
Haemata supported the programme narrative and design by shaping the learning approach, the design and review process, and confirming delivery standards and brand alignment. Learning assets were scoped and developed across five topic areas, supported by short-form video briefs and aligned static graphic design.
Confident. At higher capability levels, delivery moved into co-design with IR. Together we developed a series of staff-led videos and supporting resources, embedded in a PowerApp to translate learning into practical workplace application.
Capable was developed as the final level, comprising two parts:
1. individual learning and development opportunities for staff, and
2. collective cohort learning focused on leading teams, projects, and work programmes through a cultural lens.
A proposed structure for this level was co-designed, accepted, and positioned for future implementation.
Te Awatea delivered a structured learning pathway that strengthened cultural capability across the organisation. It supported staff to build knowledge, confidence, and practical application aligned to IR priorities and ways of working.
The programme created a pathway for learners to grow across capability levels, building understanding of responsibilities, Māori Crown relationships, and the practical application of learning to workplace contexts.
Through the combination of online learning assets, video-based storytelling, and applied learning tools, Te Awatea strengthened IR’s ability to build cultural confidence and support a more accessible and responsive public service for Māori.
The Conclusion
Te Awatea strengthened Inland Revenue’s internal capability by providing a clear learning pathway from foundational knowledge through to applied practice. Through a long-term partnership approach and co-designed delivery, the programme supported sustainable organisational development and ongoing workforce confidence.
Haemata’s contribution across both the design and delivery phases ensured the programme was strategically aligned, culturally grounded, and practical for staff at different stages of capability.
The result is a strong foundation for ongoing learning, applied practice, and long-term organisational transformation.