Mahi Aroha: Māori Perspectives on volunteering and cultural obligations

A research report from The Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector (OCVS) intended to lead to a better understanding of volunteering and unpaid work from a Māori perspective.

The report Mahi Aroha: Māori Perspectives on volunteering and cultural obligations was considered by research participants to capture the concept behind Māori 'voluntary' work.

Mahi aroha is the unpaid activity performed out of sympathy and caring for others in accordance with the principles of tikanga to maintain mana and rangatiratanga, rather than for financial or personal reward.

Mahi aroha is one aspect of tohu aroha – an expression that incorporates the spiritual and temporal aspects of volunteering. He tohu aroha is an expression or manifestation of love, sympathy or caring.

The report covers topics such as: Māori Concepts of Volunteering, Types of Mahi Aroha Undertaken, Motivations for Volunteering, Motivations for Mahi Aroha, Mahi Aroha and Cultural Survival, The Value of Mahi Aroha, The Personal Costs of Mahi Aroha, Impacts of Not Contributing Mahi Aroha, and Supporting Mahi Aroha.

The report can be downloaded from the OCVS website: www.ocvs.govt.nz/documents/reports/mahi-aroha.pdf. (PDF file, 892 Kb)*

* This document is in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.