Māori & Pasifika at Analytics and Research in Government

Improving outcomes for Māori and Pacific people is needed across the entire public sector.

The ARG programme is a multi-agency initiative to build capability in data, analytics and research across Government. These critical insights inform the way government makes decisions, from policy changes to operational and financial decisions – ARG is a crucial part of creating a better Aotearoa for all New Zealanders. To do this we need a wide range of perspectives working across government to ensure we’re doing the best for all New Zealanders.

Improving outcomes for Māori and Pacific people is needed across the entire public sector. It cuts across every area from employment, to economic stability and growth, to social welfare, child welfare, health, education, justice, and many others. We can’t do this without the perspectives and skillsets of Māori and Pacific people and ARG wants to support this kaupapa by growing the number of Māori and Pacific people on the ARG programme and, hopefully, into long careers in public service.

Māori and Pacific people currently make up 13% of students in the traditional degree areas we recruit from (technology and sciences degrees), and so most of the students we get are through the social sciences that we recruit for research-focused projects.

So we’re changing the way we recruit ARG candidates by:

Broadening our search for candidates to non-traditional degree areas including targeting Unitech and polytechs.
Partnering with programmes like Tupu Tai and Tupu Toa to offer their alumni a fast-track option through the recruitment process.

We want to create pathways for Māori and Pacific students to build a career in analytics and research in the public sector and share their unique and valuable perspectives and skills.

We want to ensure that the ARG programme is a safe space for people of all backgrounds to grow their careers and develop their skills and we welcome applications from people of all walks of life.