Measuring performance and effectiveness for Mäori ... - Te Puni Kokiri

(Gill and Russell, 2011, p.8). As Durie expresses
the question from a Mäori perspective: against
what and whose benchmarks should Mäori
gauge progress
MÄORI PARTICIPATION IN THE
PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT
PROCESS
The international literature makes a very
strong case for engaging citizens and service
users in the design and development of
performance measures. The more citizens
are involved, the more public buy-in and
the more the information will be used and
seen as credible. Similarly, Mäori writers
emphasise the importance of engaging
Mäori consumers to better understand Mäori
consumer needs and aspirations. Measuring
performance for Mäori rests on ascertaining
what Mäori value and consider to be an
important or a positive outcome.
Two main approaches to performance
measurement for Mäori
The literature reflects two main approaches
in measuring the effectiveness of government
services for Mäori:
• comparative measurement, which compares
ethnic differences in universal or generic
performance (e.g. the total rate of people
exiting from the benefit system into
employment, compared with the exit rate
for Mäori clients); and
• Mäori-specific measurement, which is
attuned to Mäori realities and world views,
and which aims to assess performance
against Mäori norms.
Discussion of comparative
measurement
Mäori academic literature affirms that
comparative measures, particularly in
combination with Mäori-specific measures,
can provide useful information. Other strands
of the domestic literature tend to concentrate
only on comparative measurement.
Common practice is to provide measurement
information that compares Mäori with
non-Mäori. Some of the academic literature
questions the validity of these comparisons,
as ‘non-Mäori’ is not an ethnic group. A
more valid comparison may be achieved by
providing a full breakdown to compare results
with those of other specific ethnic groups (i.e.
Mäori, Pacific, and New Zealand European).
Characteristics of Mäori-specific
measurement
Mäori-specific measures might seek to capture
results at the level of collectives rather than
individuals. Capturing the perspectives of the
individual Mäori client, the client’s whänau,
and the service provider gives a robust
perspective of what the service has achieved.
There are many other ways in which the
‘norms’ of Te Ao Mäori might be reflected
in agencies’ performance measurement. For
example, a measure of adequate housing
might take into account the provision for
extended families and manuhiri.
This is not to say, there is such a thing as a
single, monolithic ‘Mäori view’ of what is
important in service performance or overall
Mäori wellbeing. Durie (2003a, p. 312)
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E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y