Ep 53 - The Future of Crown-Māori Relations is In All Our Hands, with Lil Anderson

Introducing Lil Anderson If you spend any time researching those that are playing a role between Māori and the Crown, then you’ll soon come across an organisation called Te Arawhiti - the Office for Māori Crown Relations. Translated, ‘Te Arawhiti’ means ‘the bridge’, and the organisation was established in 2018 by Cabinet to work towards true Treaty partnership. Our guest today, Lil Anderson, is the Chief Executive of this amazing organisation and she shares her unique view and approach to building true partnership between Māori and the Crown. Having been thrown into the deep end by Dame Whina Cooper when she was just seven years old, Lil has carried the same purpose and spirit with her through all her years of public service - to speak up and be bolder. If you’d love to feel more empowered in your place as either Māori or Pākehā, and feel more equipped to ‘cross the bridge’ and find a way to work in true partnership, this episode is essential listening. In today’s episode you’ll learn: Why Pākehā need to spend more time crossing the bridge into te ao Māori to grow true partnership The importance of listening (and that your first move shouldn’t be to research data but to talk to people) What does good partnership look like? What are the features of it and how do you achieve it? How Dame Whina Cooper’s legacy lives on in Lil Anderson today! Resources mentioned in this episode Lil Anderson’s LinkedIn profile Te Arawhiti website Te Haeata – settlement commitments portal Dame Whina Cooper biography and the new movie “Whina” in her honour Aatea Solutions website Beyond Sticky Notes, by Kelly-Ann McKercher