Tohu Kaupapa Māori Award

NZSTA would like to recognise a team or individual service and commitment to kaupapa Māori in the workplace. This award is not limited to speech-language therapists; however, nominees are expected to contribute positively to speech-language therapy spaces.

Value: $1,000
Each nominee will receive a certificate recognising their commitment to kaupapa Māori.

Selection process:

Nominees will have been observed to demonstrate:  

• NZSTA values of aroha, whanaungatanga, rangatiratanga, and kotahitanga 
• Positive leadership by embedding kaupapa Māori and promoting tikanga within the workplace 
• Commitment to learning and continued sharing of kaupapa Māori (for example, te reo Māori, tikanga, etc)  

Evidence:

Evidence will take the form of reference/nomination detailing how the individual/team have demonstrated leadership in kaupapa Māori.

Award Process:

The winner of the Tohu Kaupapa Māori Award will be determined by the Māori rōpū and will be announced in September.

Applications close at 5pm on 30 June annually.

Apply now

 Any queries, please contact culturaldevelopment@speechtherapy.org.nz

Awarded in 2024 to Siobhan Molloy

Siobhan has been in a kaitiakitanga position at the NZSTA since 2021. For the past five years, NZSTA has been on a committed journey to become a Te Tiriti-aligned and bicultural association, and she has been an unwavering ally throughout.

The number of SLTs identifying as Māori has increased from about 30 in 2020 to around 70 in 2024, suggesting that people have felt safer sharing their whakapapa Māori.

Her open-mindedness and receptiveness to innovative ideas have been crucial in fostering an environment where a bicultural approach could be imagined within the association. Her willingness to challenge existing norms and ask probing questions when clarity was needed demonstrates her commitment to understanding different perspectives. Her ability for āta whakarongo (to listen carefully and reflectively) has been the pou of her leadership. By creating space for genuine dialogue and actively seeking to understand the experiences and aspirations of Māori SLTs, she has cultivated a developing culture of trust, respect, and collaboration. This has been instrumental in moving towards an association where a bicultural approach can be imagined. Within the last 5 years, the association has:

• Prioritized kaumātua kaupapa
• Funded and supported 3 Māori Noho
• Provided seeding grants for the development of Te Tiriti kaupapa
• Supported the delivery of anti-racism workshops
• Funded and supported the development of authentic and robust Te Tiriti Policy

In a time when many professional associations have separate Māori and Tauiwi associations due to the lack of space for Māori within the existing structures, NZSTA stands as a united association. Her aroha and māhaki have helped the board become a safer space where Māori feel valued and respected. We honour her for her mahi.