Lived experiences of Māori employees during Covid-19

About this research

The literature tells us that Māori face many challenging factors in their work experiences, but some findings show drawing on cultural factors might be beneficial. This study focuses on the lived experiences of Māori employees during Covid-19. It focuses on collecting data from Māori Employees and comparing it with similar data from New Zealand European employees to understand similarities and differences. The aim is not be to identify deficiencies but rather provide a specific focus on Māori in work during these challenging Covid-19 times. The study seeks to explore whether Māori employees are coping better, worse, or similar as New Zealand Europeans? This study provides a comparison. But having a sample of non-Māori to compare scores with, we might understand whether Māori employees job burnout or job satisfaction has suffered across the Covid-19 period. Importantly, the study seeks to understand unique cultural-related strategies that employees might engage in that makes the challenges of Covid-19 more bearable. For example, perhaps Māori have drawn on whānau connections to provide an additional robust defence against the anxiety of Covid-19 times. The study seeks to collect roughly 250 Māori Employee respondents and compare that data with 500 New Zealand European employees, with a focus on work and wellbeing outcome.

Principal Investigator

Dr Jarrod Haar (PhD), Ngati Maniapoto/Ngati Mahuta descent, is a Professor of Human Resource Management at AUT. His research focuses on (1) work-family and work-life balance, (2) Māori employees and Mātauranga Māori, (3) leadership, (4) wellbeing, and (5) R&D, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Professor Haar is ranked world-class (PBRF); won Industry and best-paper awards; research grants (Marsden, FRST); and currently researchers on a National Science Challenge (Science for Technological Innovation), a Marsden grant (Living Wage), and a Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga grant (Māori HRM). He has over 390 refereed outputs (including 111 journal articles) and convenes the Economics and Human Behaviour Marsden panel.