Beyond the Tick-Box: Turning Tokenism into True Engagement

Tokenism: Does It Have a Role in Māori Engagement?

Tokenism often gets a bad name—and understandably so.

At Kākano Consulting, we hear the discomfort and hesitation people feel around the word. In our work as a Māori consultancy based in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, we regularly see organisations wrestling with how to engage with te ao Māori (the Māori world) in a way that is meaningful and not merely symbolic.

But we offer a different perspective.

What is Tokenism?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, tokenism is:

Something that a person or organisation does that seems to support or help a group of people who are treated unfairly in society… but which is not meant to make changes that would help that group of people in a lasting way.

In practice, we often see this in businesses and government agencies that want to do the right thing, but don’t know where to begin.

Tokenism, in these cases, can be a sign that a seed has been planted.

The Seed of Intent

For us, tokenism isn’t always a bad thing.

It often starts when an organisation recognises that change is needed—that they want to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, engage more respectfully with Māori, or integrate te ao Māori into their workplace. But without the right guidance or cultural capability, the action they take may appear superficial.

This might look like:

• Starting meetings with karakia, but without proper tikanga or understanding.

• Using Māori job titles or names without embodying or uplifting the meaning behind them.

• Including Māori motifs or language in branding without authentic partnership or involvement from iwi or hapū.

When actions are taken without deeper intent, it can feel like a tick-box exercise—and that’s when tokenism becomes problematic.

Turning Tokenism into Genuine Māori Engagement

We believe that when the heart is in the right place, tokenism can be transformed into something more meaningful.

If your organisation is taking its first steps towards iwi engagement or incorporating te ao Māori into your business, that’s something to acknowledge—and build from.

Our role at Kākano is to help nurture those seeds.

We work with organisations across Aotearoa to develop the knowledge, tools, and relationships needed to move beyond tokenism and into true partnership—based on mutual respect, integrity, and shared outcomes.

Where to from here?

If you're unsure how Te Tiriti o Waitangi applies to your organisation…If you're unsure how to build authentic relationships with Māori, iwi or hapū…If you want to engage meaningfully but don't know where to start...

We're here to help.

Let’s grow something meaningful together.

At Kākano Consulting, we support businesses, councils, and government agencies across Aotearoa—especially here in Auckland—to move from good intentions to genuine iwi engagement.

If you're ready to plant and grow the seeds of true partnership, cultural capability, and authentic connection with Māori, let's kōrero.

Contact us today to start your journey.