Leading by example
The NZDF welcomed its first Māori Cultural Advisor, Warrant Officer One Jerald Twomey, on 31 August 2009. This new role will continue to develop and enhance NZDF’s long standing traditions and unique cultural identity.
As Māori Cultural Advisor, WO1 Twomey will provide advice on matters ranging from protocol, event management and kapa haka, to te reo Māori, including:
- providing advice on cultural practices appropriate to NZDF activities
- advising on the implementation of NZDF cultural policies
- liaising with local iwi and hapu, and
- developing learning opportunities within NZDF in areas of Māori language, tikanga and the Treaty of Waitangi.
Originally from Ngati Raukawa, W01 Twomey is of Ngati Raukawa ki te Tonga descent and his family marae, located near Halcombe, is Taumata-o-te-ra. He has served in the Army for 23 years and prior to this role was an Equipment Manager based at Trentham.
“I anticipate there will be a lot of learning on the job and I look forward to the challenge and diversity. NZDF has always had a strong cultural affiliation with Tikanga Māori, so to work in this role is a great honour.”
Tikanga Māori is an integral part of Defence. Both the Navy and Army have maraes as an integral part of their cultures and the Air Force is considering the possibility of its own marae in the future.
The NZDF endorses tikanga Māori; it is particularly seen during formal ceremonial activities. Contingents deployed overseas regularly welcome their replacements with a haka powhiri, which gives a distinctive “Kiwi” perspective to these occasions. Currently, NZDF has 12,506 full-time Service men and women and civilian staff. Of this total, about 15.8% are identified as Māori.