Cultural Policy RFCB

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

RFCB acknowledges Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand and recognises the status of Māori as tangata whenua.

Members are expected to:

  • Demonstrate respect for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.

  • Understand the impact of colonisation and historical inequities on Māori wellbeing.

  • Practise in ways that support equity, partnership, participation, and protection.

  • Develop knowledge of Māori worldviews, values, and approaches to wellbeing.

  • Recognise the importance of whānau, whakapapa, wairua, and cultural identity in therapeutic practice.

  • Seek appropriate cultural guidance and consultation when required.

Working with Diverse Communities

Members must provide culturally safe and respectful services to people from all cultural, ethnic, religious, gender, sexuality, and social backgrounds.

This includes developing competence when working with:

  • Māori

  • Pacific Peoples

  • Asian communities

  • Middle Eastern, Latin American and African communities

  • Refugees and former refugees

  • Migrant communities

  • Disabled persons

  • Rainbow and LGBTQIA+ communities

  • Faith-based communities

  • Rural and isolated communities

Members must recognise that individuals may identify with multiple cultural groups and should avoid assumptions based on ethnicity, nationality, religion, age, gender, sexuality, or other characteristics.

Cultural Safety

Members are responsible for:

  • Reflecting on their own cultural values, beliefs, biases, and assumptions.

  • Recognising the potential impact of power imbalances within the counselling relationship.

  • Adapting their practice to meet the cultural needs of clients where appropriate.

  • Respecting the right of clients to define their own cultural identity.

  • Seeking supervision, education, consultation, or referral where cultural competence limitations may affect service quality.

Ongoing Professional Development

Members are expected to engage in ongoing professional development relating to cultural competence and cultural safety.

This may include:

  • Māori cultural competency training

  • Te Tiriti o Waitangi education

  • Pacific cultural responsiveness training

  • Working with migrant and refugee communities

  • Diversity and inclusion education

  • Cultural supervision or consultation

Professional Responsibility

Members must continually develop their cultural knowledge and responsiveness to ensure that services are respectful, effective, equitable, and appropriate for the diverse communities of Aotearoa New Zealand.

All members must complete a minimum amount of cultural competence and/or Te Tiriti o Waitangi-related professional development annually as determined by the Board