Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) has developed draft Koha Policy and Practice Guidelines which it has released for consultation.

TINZ’s delegated authority for Tiriti-O-Waitangi, Karen Coutts, says as part of its work on strengthening integrity systems, TINZ is seeking to clarify the practice of koha for non-Māori.

“This can be a challenging area for some non-Māori, as it sometimes involves the transfer of cash. Importantly, while on one hand integrity means the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles it also means the state of being whole and undivided,” she says.

“Translating a practice such as koha - which is a personal expression of your deep gratitude and respect to your hosts - into a guideline for business practice requires a shift in thinking from the business world that goes beyond the monetary value of the exchange.

“TINZ has therefore developed draft Koha Policy and Practice Guidelines which we now release for consultation. This is a richly diverse area so we do not expect to have got it right straight away.

“Consistent with our purpose in supporting strong integrity, we offer this tool to help support businesses and organisations improve their practices,” says Ms Coutts.