Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion framework
Read the University's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion framework.
Download the framework (PDF) to find out more about our principles, goals, and our focus equity groups.
Our aspirations
A vibrant, creative, supportive and inclusive environment that encourages the recruitment, development and retention of a diverse community of talented staff and students.
Our principles
We acknowledge and respect the distinct status of Māori as tangata whenua and are committed to meeting the University’s obligations under te Tiriti o Waitangi. The voices of those who experience disadvantage will be actively sought and inform the ongoing development and co-design of university policy and practice. Our focus will be to recognise and address systemic disadvantage. Our core ethical values of respect, responsibility, fairness, integrity, and empathy will underpin all our actions supporting equity, diversity and inclusion. Merit is the overriding criterion for decisions affecting individuals. Progress will be measured as we focus on improving outcomes for our identified equity groups. This is a living document that will require continual development.
Our goals
Attraction and recruitment
We will determine effective and targeted plans and initiatives to attract and recruit a diverse community of staff and students who can broaden and enhance our perspectives and actively contribute to the achievement of our strategic goals. Particular attention will be given to attracting and recruiting students and staff from our identified equity groups.
Participation
We will provide a safe and respectful environment, responding proactively to the diverse needs of members of our community. This will require the development of a broad range of plans and actions to ensure that all staff and students can successfully participate in university life. We will give particular attention to meeting the needs of our identified equity groups to ensure barriers to successful participation are removed.
Influence and engagement
We will encourage and support inclusive behaviours and relationships amongst academic staff, professional staff and students. To achieve this, we will increase awareness of, and commitment to, equity, diversity and inclusion amongst members of our community. Policies and practices to support and value the activities of all staff and students will be developed. We will also actively engage and connect with our local and global communities in ways that reflect our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Retention
We are committed to retaining a diverse community of talented students and staff who have the opportunity and support to succeed in their areas of strength or endeavour. People within our community will be accepted for their unique qualities and empowered to access the opportunities available to them.
Our focus for staff
- Māori staff
- Pasifika staff
- staff with disabilities
- staff working in professions or disciplines where there are significant gender disparities
- lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex (LGBTQIA+), takatāpui staff
- women staff, especially academic women.
Our focus for students
- Māori students
- Pasifika students
- students with disabilities
- students from refugee backgrounds
- students studying in disciplines where there are significant gender disparities and/or where there are issues of gender equity
- lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex (LGBTQIA+), takatāpui students
- students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
In simple terms, equity enables our differences to be recognised, diversity is the mix of our differences, and inclusion is getting the mix to work well together.
This framework has been approved as a University Policy.