In 2021, the Inclusion & Belonging team launched a new initiative called 'Our People Their Stories'. Each month we hear from people across our business. These are ordinary people like us, who bravely share the experiences that shaped them and the lessons they learnt which have led them to think, act and live differently.

This month, we acknowledge Matariki Day, celebrated in New Zealand. Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster. It rises during Pipiri (June/July) and marks the beginning of the Māori new year. We recently met with Kaihautū (Program Manager and Cultural Advisor) at Downer New Zealand, Jarrod Telford. Jarrod chatted to us about his culture, the significance of Matariki Day and what it means to him.

What is your cultural background? Can you please introduce yourself and who you are outside of work? 

Ko Maungahaumi te maunga, Ko Waipaoa te awa, ko Te Aitanga a Mahaki te iwi. Maungahaumi means mountain, Waipaoa is the river and Te Aitanga a Mahaki are my people. 

This form of introduction is called a pepeha and is how we connect with each other. It also locates my tu-ranga-waewae (my place to stand) as being in the Gisborne area of the North Island on the East coast. My dad is a pākēhā (non-Indigenous) of Scottish-Irish descent. 

I’m a proud Māori man, a father of three children, the eldest brother of nine siblings and an uncle to countless nephews and nieces. My community is very important to me and I’m passionate about coaching community sports teams. 

Jarrod pictured in the foreground at Te Ara Whanake (Māori Leadership program) - teaching the Downer Haka at Umupuia Marae, Auckland.

We noticed when we contacted you that your email signature said “Kaihautū” can you tell us more about what that means and what your role involves?

I’m not sure if there has ever been a job title before in Te Reo (Māori language) at Downer but when my role was created the General Manager of People & Culture at the time, suggested I seek a name in Te Reo. After consulting with a few of the kaumatua (elders), Kaihautū was the agreed role name. The name is derived from our long history of maritime navigation and is given to the leader aboard a canoe that keeps the paddlers in time. If you were to look at being a Kaihautū in a Downer context, you could say I advise on, manage and facilitate a canoe of Māori programs that Downer New Zealand delivers. I also work within a Māori Governance Board whose vision is to “create an environment where Māori thrive”. This includes the use and implementation of Te Reo and building cultural capability in our leaders across the business.

Before Downer, where did you work? What was the path you took to get to where you are now?

I spent my 20s and early 30s globetrotting the world, masquerading as a rugby union player. I travelled extensively and it was a great time in my life. When my partner and I decided to head home and start a family I became a carpentry apprentice and eventually ended up working for Downer to build a train station. Since then, I have worked in Rail, Open Space Management, Maintenance, Construction and Major Projects. Now I work in Human Resources! 

A major catalyst for my career switch to Human Resources, was being a part of the first Māori Leadership program – Te Ara Whanake, nearly ten years ago. It gave me a glimpse of the various opportunities and career paths at Downer and gave me the confidence to pursue a new role. 

How is Downer trying to broaden talent pipelines to encourage more Māori young people to pursue white-collar positions?

The Corporate Social Outcomes team, which I’m a part of, work tirelessly in this space. Young Māori people, have been employed at Downer mainly through blue-collar labour roles and while this will continue to be an avenue for employment, we are working with the wider business to offer more aspirational roles through trade apprenticeships. Te Ara Whanake, our Māori leadership program, is our most successful platform for upskilling our people to progress to managerial and senior roles. Our EGM for Finance and EGM for Transport were both graduates of this program. We have also started to offer funding for tertiary education as another way for our people to ‘break the glass ceiling’ and progress in corporate pathways.  

What does Matariki mean to you?

For me, Matariki is all about reflection and gratitude. It’s a time to reflect upon the previous year and to celebrate successes. It’s also about remembering our loved ones who are no longer with us. It is a great time to catch up and enjoy being with family, eating together and thinking about the possibilities that the future year holds.

Importantly it’s a time to take time out to spiritually reconnect more deeply with the environment and tune in to the world around us.

How are you celebrating Matariki?

For me, it’s not a big flashy celebration. It’s more of an intimate and informal event where you share kai (food) and kōrero (stories and discussion) with family, friends and colleagues. As a family we spend a lot of time at the beach, some evenings star gazing and best of all a feast with a hāngi (earth oven) – all weather dependent!

Why is knowing your culture and connections so important to you?

Knowledge of your culture is knowledge of one’s self. Being Māori provides me with a foundation that cannot be shifted or eroded – it grounds me firmly in an ever-changing global society. My pepeha connects me to my people and geographical landmarks, as well as our ancestors who are buried in Aotearoa (New Zealand).

Why are you proud to be Māori?

I love our language, our humour, our songs and our spiritual connections to the land and water. Being proud of my identity makes me acutely aware of my people’s struggle to maintain culture and for some people that struggle continues. I’m passionate about challenging stereotypes and I’m conscious of how the fight for equity and social justice has been used in some instances for political gain. 

I’m passionate about being a role model and setting an example to my children, my family and all Māori young people that you can walk in two worlds; Te Ao Māori (the Maori world) and the Western world.

What do you do outside of work?

I’m really busy with sports in our house and love being active with the kids. I like surfing, hunting, mountain biking and my personal favourite is diving for seafood.

Jarrod pictured with Tama-te-Mārō (left) at TAG finals.

Thanks Jarrod, for taking the time to talk with us about your culture and story! 

If you have any questions, please email jarrod.telford@downer.co.nz

Jarrod with his children Ariana (left) and Ranginui (right).