Delivering a Strategy for Working with Māori,and Developing Responsiveness to an Increasingly Multicultural Population: a perspective from the National Library of New Zealand

Abstract

Outlines the role and responsibilities of the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa in a country with a bi-cultural foundation and a multicultural national community. The Library's plan for responsiveness to Māori — `Te Kaupapa Mahi Tahi: a Plan for Partnership' builds on traditional library services and products by developing new electronic services including digitization for access and preservation, through a power-sharing relationship with Māori. A Māori perspective is maintained through a national consultative and facilitative process. New avenues for collaboration between the National Library and other national and local government policy developers are indicated and examples of the Library's working relationships with iwi (tribes) are provided. The Library's collaboration with Pasifika, Asian, refugee and migrant communities in New Zealand is outlined. These activities are linked to the `New Generation National Library' strategy, which is designed to provide all New Zealanders with information important to all aspects of their lives. Issues and challenges for the future are also noted..