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About Us

Who we are and what we do

Group of people at the Regional Diversity Hui

Te Uru Tāngata Centre for Workplace Inclusion works with organisations across the motu to shape fair, connected workplaces where people of all backgrounds come together to enjoy shared purpose and success.

We do that by:

  • Bringing credible, research-backed expertise on inclusion to the heart of business strategy.
  • Partnering across industries, communities, and sectors to advance the discipline of workplace inclusion.
  • Supporting our member organisations to build inclusive workplaces where every individual feels rooted in connection, nurtured in growth, and valued for their unique contributions.
  • Encouraging continuous learning, honest reflection and steady progress in organisational diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Ensuring every leader and workplace inclusion practitioner has the resources they need to create an environment where everyone can thrive.

 

Many partners. One clear focus.
Because inclusion isn't just one thing we do — it's the thing we do.

 

Become a member of Te Uru Tāngata Centre for Workplace Inclusion
Why workplace inclusion matters

Diversity is all around us; global economic trends, shifts in population structures, and improved communication channels have changed our organisations and how we operate. The key to unlocking the social and economic benefits of diversity is through organisations having cultures of inclusion.

Every day, people come together in workplaces - across different backgrounds, beliefs, identities, and life experiences. When these environments are inclusive, something powerful happens; people feel safe, valued, and connected. They can contribute fully, grow with confidence, and build trust across lines of difference.

Inclusion doesn’t just improve our workplaces. It strengthens the fabric of our society. It transforms diversity into connection, fairness into action, and difference into strength.

Inclusion builds fairness and belonging

  • Workplaces that are inclusive help correct historical exclusion and open up new opportunities for everyone.
  • When workplaces reflect the communities they serve, people feel seen and heard.
  • Inclusive cultures foster mutual respect and reduce the fear and division that can pull society apart.

Inclusion improves how we work together

  • Inclusive workplaces support stronger relationships, better collaboration, and more meaningful outcomes.
  • People are more likely to feel safe, supported, and engaged.
  • Different lived experiences spark fresh thinking and innovation.
  • Diverse perspectives help groups navigate complexity and avoid blind spots.

Inclusion prepares us for the future

  • Inclusive environments are better at adapting to disruption and uncertainty.
  • When people from all walks of life help shape the future, we make smarter, more sustainable choices.
  • Inclusion helps us stay connected, even when the world around us feels polarised or unstable.

 

Inclusion makes us all stronger. It’s how we create a future where more people can participate, contribute, and belong - and where the places we work become part of the solution to division, disconnection, and distrust.

Read more: Workplace Diversity Case Model
Our history

Te Uru Tāngata Centre for Workplace Inclusion was launched in July 2025, drawing on more than three decades of experience supporting Aotearoa's workplaces to become fairer and more inclusive.

This new organisation represents the evolution of Diversity Works New Zealand into a refreshed legal and strategic form — a transition designed to strengthen our mission, accelerate change, and reflect a deeper commitment to Te Tiriti and te ao Māori.

Our new name, Te Uru Tāngata, was developed in collaboration with Māori advisors and reviewed by the Cultural Advisory Committee of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. It draws on the whakataukī Kahikātea tū i te uru – strength in numbers, reflecting our belief that collective effort is key to creating enduring change.

Our story began in 1992, when the Equal Employment Opportunity Trust was established through a unique partnership between the public and private sectors. In 2016, we became Diversity Works New Zealand, expanding our focus across a wider range of diversity dimensions and placing greater emphasis on inclusion as a driver of organisational success.

Te Uru Tāngata now carries that legacy forward — grounded in our past, responsive to the present, and committed to shaping the future of workplace inclusion in Aotearoa.