Creating an Inclusive Community
Glen Eden Community House is committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally safe environment that reflects the rich diversity of Glen Eden and upholds our responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This policy affirms our commitment to equity, respect, and participation for all people who engage with our services, programmes, and spaces.
This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, board members, contractors, programme participants, and visitors of Glen Eden Community House. It outlines how we design services, interact with our community, and make decisions as an organisation.
Our Community Context
Glen Eden is a culturally diverse community, home to Māori as tangata whenua alongside people from many ethnicities, cultures, languages, faiths, and migration experiences. Glen Eden Community House recognises this diversity as a strength and is committed to responding in ways that are inclusive, respectful, and community-led.
Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Glen Eden Community House acknowledges Te Tiriti o Waitangi as New Zealand’s founding document and recognises Māori as tangata whenua. We are committed to honouring the principles of Te Tiriti through partnership, participation, and protection.
In practice, this means we will work to build respectful relationships with mana whenua, support Māori participation in our services and decision-making, protect and value te reo Māori and tikanga Māori, and actively consider the impacts of our work on Māori communities.
Multicultural Commitment
Glen Eden Community House is committed to valuing and celebrating cultural diversity. We aim to provide services and programmes that are accessible, culturally responsive, and inclusive of people from all cultural backgrounds. Discrimination, harassment, or exclusion based on ethnicity, nationality, language, religion, or cultural identity will not be tolerated.
We recognise that communities experience barriers in different ways and are committed to reducing these barriers through inclusive practices, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Culturally Safe Practice
GECH is committed to fostering culturally safe environments where people feel respected, heard, and valued. This includes being aware of power dynamics, avoiding assumptions, and responding appropriately to cultural needs.
Staff and volunteers are encouraged to develop cultural competence through training, reflection, and engagement with the communities we serve. Where appropriate, we will seek cultural advice and support.
Accessibility and Inclusion
We will take reasonable steps to ensure that our spaces, communications, and programmes are accessible to people of diverse languages, abilities, ages, genders, and backgrounds. This may include using plain language, translated materials, culturally appropriate engagement methods, and inclusive programme design.
Responsibilities
The Board and Management are responsible for implementing, monitoring, and reviewing this policy. Staff and volunteers are responsible for upholding the principles of this policy in their day-to-day work and interactions. All people engaging with GECH are expected to treat others with respect and dignity.
Continuous Improvement
Glen Eden Community House is committed to ongoing learning and improvement in our multicultural and Te Tiriti practice. We will regularly reflect on our approaches, seek community feedback, and adapt our services to meet evolving needs better.
What This Policy Looks Like in Practice
At Glen Eden Community House, our commitment to multicultural inclusion and Te Tiriti o Waitangi is evident in our everyday actions. This includes welcoming people in ways that are respectful of culture and identity, using inclusive language, and creating spaces where people feel safe to be themselves.
In practice, this means we seek community input when designing programmes, adapt activities to reflect cultural needs, and celebrate cultural events that are meaningful to our community. We make an effort to include te reo Māori in signage, communications, and everyday interactions, and we respect tikanga Māori in our spaces.
Staff and volunteers are encouraged to ask questions, seek guidance, and reflect on their learning. When cultural misunderstandings arise, we respond with openness and a commitment to learning rather than blame. Partnerships with local organisations, cultural groups, and iwi are valued as essential to strengthening community connection.
