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Food Focus August 2007

A shared vision for the future

NZFSA has launched its strategy for working with Mäori on food safety and consumer protection issues

Based on the principles of partnership, participation and protection, NZFSA has developed the strategy to help support a consistent approach to issues such as food safety and consumer protection, as they affect Mäori.

Called A Shared Vision it will also help provide a broader perspective on the relationship between Mäori and NZFSA and identify areas where both would benefit from a closer relationship.

Raniera Bassett, NZFSA’s Programme Manager for Community Extension explains: “Mäori have cultural and spiritual obligations to provide food at hui, on Marae and in a variety of settings to maintain the dignity of kaumätua (Mäori elders), whänau, hapü and iwi.

“This strategy presents an opportunity for NZFSA, in consultation with Marae rünanga (boards or committees) kaumätua, whänau, hapü and iwi to work together strategically to promote greater awareness of food safety and suitability issues.”

Enhance outcomes

It also outlines how the relationship will enhance the outcomes of NZFSA’s strategic goals of protecting and promoting consumer health, supporting New Zealand’s economic growth and prosperity, and enhancing international trade in food and food-related products.

Its main aims are to:

• raise levels of food safety awareness and foodborne illness risks

• raise awareness of the development, application and promotion of those food standards that may impact on Mäori – such as additives, nutrition and information labels

• highlight the need to focus on consumer and food education/ training policies for Mäori

• maintain the sanctity of kai from a tikanga Mäori perspective.

Carole Inkster, NZFSA’s Policy Director says: “Developing and maintaining relationships with Mäori provides an opportunity to better engage on food safety and suitability issues at the Marae – a place for Mäori to meet and hold hui, often consisting of large gatherings of people at various times of the year.”

“Working at the Marae level also provides an opportunity to complement and parallel one of the Ministry of Health’s key objectives of ‘Healthy Eating – Healthy Action’ (‘Oranga Kai – Oranga Pümau’). Doing so will enable messages to be readily understood, maximise their uptake, and be most efficient at influencing behaviours that will improve food safety and food generally on the Marae”, says Raniera.

Public health gains

Consumer information around food suitability issues, particularly as they relate to labelling and nutrition, is potentially more valuable to Mäori than to many other groups in New Zealand. This is because the public health gains are more significant for Mäori, who are more at risk of food-related diseases such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

NZFSA believes relationships with Mäori can be developed on and off the Marae. A focus at the Marae level will result in input into wider food safety and suitability issues, as well as the development and implementation of food safety and suitability standards at the national level. Different approaches may be needed regarding transfer of information, knowledge and communication between NZFSA and Mäori especially to reach those off the Marae.

“The opportunity to have access to a Mäori contact group that NZFSA can call on to discuss, disseminate and offer possible solutions on food safety and suitability-related issues confronting Mäori is also valuable”, says Carole. “A group that could be convened on a needs basis but with whom contact could be ongoing to ensure their familiarity with food issues and developments would work very well.

“FSANZ [Food Standards Australia New Zealand] has a Mäori Reference Group – the Kähui Kounga Kai, which has consulted with Mäori on issues relating to the development of food labelling and composition standards. The Kähui has held hui with Mäori, and NZFSA has participated in some of these. In the future our strategy will give us the opportunity to coordinate all food-related matters as they affect Mäori and so meet the needs of both organisations.”

Effective messaging

NZFSA can also effect the development and delivery of food safety and suitability communications, discussions and messages with and for Mäori by ensuring our contracts with the public health units have an explicit provision in this area. Local authorities may also play a major role.

Communication between Mäori, sector groups, NZFSA and FSANZ will also raise the level of knowledge about each others’ roles, functions and responsibilities.

“The work we in NZFSA have done in working with Mäori to date, for example the Hangi Guide and other educational resources, is a great start to making this strategy a very practical initiative”, says Raniera.

New Zealand Food Safety Authority Strategy for Involving Mäori in Food Safety and Consumer Protection Issues can be read in full and downloaded from NZFSA’s website at: www.nzfsa.govt.nz.