Dale-Maree Morgan swearing in
Waipā District Council staff are seeking cultural safety advice from Māori Ward councillor Dale-Maree Morgan.
Dale-Maree Morgan
Morgan asked council people and capability operations manager Clark Collins for an update on cultural safety before sharing she had been approached by a staff member for guidance on who to talk to after finding bones.
Collins said it was not a subject he could discuss in depth, but he was happy to support and help drive cultural safety.
“I got to talk to a couple of members in two of our teams,” Morgan said.
“One was they were unaware who they talk to when they find bones, cultural finds,” she said.
“It concerned me that that person had to come all the way to me to ask for some advice. And that shows me that maybe we’re not putting down to all of our levels the new appointments, and how we might need to just strengthen in that cultural safety part. Because we’ve got people actively out there dealing with these situations, and because we don’t have an avenue—or we’re not telling them that there are avenues now—that they can seek that support.”
Morgan said she had dealt with a couple of instances that “are just not on the radar”.
“It’s about making sure that the manner of how our worker was looked after in that space, as well as how we dealt with it. So, I had to go out and find that support myself. And because the two people that we have appointed were already deep in a lot of other work that was happening at the time as well.”
Kirsty Downey
Acting deputy chief executive and strategy group manager Kirstie Downey told Morgan there was a process in place relating to discovery protocols.
“I think it would be good for me to follow up with you outside of this meeting just to understand the situation and get more information, so that we can ensure that there is the appropriate induction provided through our people managers and through our People and Capability team.
Downey said the council had a new Head of People and Capability joining the organisation in January 2026.
“We’re very excited to have that person join us. And as part of that, there will be opportunities to look at the work programme and priorities for the people and capability team.”
Downey said the council was always striving to do better.
“We’ll ensure that we’ve got the appropriate support for our people coming into the organisation.”
Dale-Maree Morgan and husband Steve Hutt
