Crown – Māori Relationship Instruments

Crown – Māori Relationship Instruments (CMRI) is a new term used by the Crown to describe the formal relationship agreements it has with whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori organisations. Examples include memoranda of understanding (MOU) and service level agreements (SLA). CMRI is intended to provide a “whole of government approach” to establishing and recognising collaborative and ongoing relationships between the Crown and Māori. For Māori the aims are:

  • The strengthening of Māori culture and identity
  • Support for realising Māori potential.

The Ministry of Justice and Te Puni Kōkiri, along with Crown Law, researched 150 agreements and talked to the organisations who were party to them. This resulted in the development of a specific policy framework. The booklet Crown – Māori Relationship Instruments: Guidelines and Advice for Government and State Sector Agencies was published in 2006. It contains information and checklists to help agencies develop CMRI.

The CMRI policy framework is designed by the Crown “to:

  • increase the consistency between CMRI
  • increase awareness of the agreements executed across the state sector
  • contribute to the living relationships of the Treaty of Waitangi
  • assist the development of robust relationships between the Crown and Māori.”

(CMRI Guidelines, p 6)

The CMRI policy set up a CMRI Officials’ Group consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Te Puni Kōkiri. Crown agencies who are considering CMRI with whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori organisations must seek advice from this group. The Officials’ Group checks that the proposed CMRI fits the policy framework. The agencies do not have to follow the framework, but they are encouraged to follow the CMRI guidelines.

A description of CMRI can be found at Good Practice Participate, a website designed by the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector to assist government employees engage effectively with the community. It is also referred to by SPEaR, the Social Policy Evaluation and Research Committee of the Ministry of Social Development, in their guidelines for researchers.

Last updated 14 July 2009

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