Employee Handbook

Nau mai, haere mai. Welcome to Interconnected Care NZ. We are pleased to have you as part of our whānau and our kaupapa. Whether you are joining us for the first time or continuing your journey with us, we want you to feel connected, supported, and clear about the way we work together.

Our mahi is grounded in care, connection, and accountability. We believe every person carries mana, and every interaction is an opportunity to uphold dignity, strengthen trust, and support wellbeing for tangata, whānau, kaimahi, and the wider community.

This handbook is more than a set of workplace rules. It is a guide to the standards, behaviours, and shared values that help us protect our kaupapa, care for one another, and deliver services in a way that reflects who we are.

Whānau-centred support — care that honours the whole person.

Interconnected Care NZ provides holistic, whānau-centred support grounded in Te Whare Tapa Whā, recognising that wellbeing is strengthened through tinana (physical wellbeing), hinengaro (mental and emotional wellbeing), wairua (spiritual wellbeing), and whānau (family and connection).

Interconnected Care NZ Limited is a subsidiary of the Interconnected NZ Group. As part of the wider Group, our mahi sits within a broader kaupapa of connected, whānau-centred services that support care, employment, learning, and community wellbeing across Aotearoa.

Our Kawa -- The Way We Do Things Here.

Our kawa is shaped by manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, rangatiratanga, kotahitanga, and pono. These values guide how we show up, how we communicate, how we make decisions, and how we care for people. We aim to work in a way that is respectful, relational, strengths-based, and accountable. We also use every day kupu such as kōrero (communication or discussion), mahi (work), kaupapa (purpose or shared direction), tangata (people or the person receiving support), kaimahi (worker or employee), whānau (family and wider support network), mana (dignity, authority, and inherent value), and tamariki (children). These kupu help keep our language connected to who we are and how we practise.

Te Reo Māori English Meaning How This Shows Up in Our Mahi

Manaakitanga Care, respect, hospitality, and uplifting mana We treat people with dignity, compassion, and kindness in every interaction.

Whanaungatanga Relationships, belonging, and connection We build trust with tangata, whānau, kaimahi, and partners through open communication and genuine connection.

Rangatiratanga Self-determination, leadership, and choice We support people to have voice, choice, and control over decisions that affect them.

Kotahitanga Unity and working together We work as one team, sharing responsibility and supporting each other to achieve good outcomes.

Pono Honesty, integrity, and truthfulness We act with transparency, keep our commitments, and do what is right even when it is difficult.

Aroha Compassion, empathy, and care We lead with empathy and recognise lived experience, strengths, and aspirations.

Hauora Wellbeing We consider physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and whānau wellbeing in our decisions.

Tiakitanga Protection, guardianship, and care We protect people, information, resources, relationships, and the integrity of our kaupapa.

Āta Moving with care, thought, and intention We pause, listen, consider impact, and respond carefully rather than rushing important decisions.

Mātauranga Knowledge, learning, and wisdom We value learning, lived experience, professional knowledge, and continuous improvement.

Tuakana-teina Reciprocal learning and support We support one another through mentoring, guidance, shared learning, and respectful teamwork.

Wairuatanga Spiritual connection, meaning, and identity We respect what gives people identity, purpose, belonging, and meaning.

Whakamana Tātau means we uplift, strengthen, and honour one another. At Interconnected Care NZ, this is more than a phrase — it is part of our kawa. It reminds us that every person carries mana, and our responsibility is to protect and grow that mana through the way we speak, listen, lead, support, challenge, and care.

In practice, Whakamana Tātau means we give clear kōrero, recognise strengths, support growth, address concerns fairly, and create space for kaimahi, tangata, and whānau to have voice, dignity, and choice. We do not use power to diminish people. We use our roles to uphold safety, accountability, learning, and collective wellbeing.

This value guides performance conversations, leadership, supervision, feedback, complaints, discipline, development, and everyday teamwork. We aim to be honest without being harmful, firm without being degrading, and supportive without avoiding accountability.

Te Whare Tapa Whā is one of the foundations for how we understand wellbeing at Interconnected Care NZ. It reminds us that people are whole, connected, and shaped by many parts of life. Good care does not focus on one area only; it looks at the whole person, their whānau, their environment, and what helps them stand strong.

Pou English meaning What this means in our mahi

Taha tinana Physical wellbeing We support safety, health, daily needs, rest, movement, and practical care.

Taha hinengaro Mental and emotional wellbeing We listen, communicate clearly, reduce harm, and support emotional safety.

Taha wairua Spiritual wellbeing We respect identity, culture, beliefs, purpose, whakapapa, and what gives meaning to a person's life.

Taha whānau Family, relationships, and connection We recognise the importance of whānau, trusted relationships, belonging, and support networks.

For kaimahi, Te Whare Tapa Whā also reminds us to care for our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of each other. When one wall of the whare is under pressure, the whole whare can feel it. Our kawa asks us to notice, support, and respond early, with manaakitanga and clear kōrero.

This Employee Handbook is here to guide our shared mahi. It explains the policies, procedures, expectations, and support available to you as part of Interconnected Care NZ. It should be read as a practical guide to how we work together with manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, rangatiratanga, kotahitanga, pono, and aroha.

We ask every kaimahi to take time to read and understand the policies in this handbook. These expectations help us protect tangata, whānau, kaimahi, and the integrity of our kaupapa. If something goes wrong, we will look at the circumstances fairly, reset expectations where appropriate, and provide guidance before moving to formal action unless the matter requires a stronger response.

Some of the key policies that we encourage everyone to be mindful of include:

Absenteeism and lateness notification

Annual leave notification

Sickness notification

Misconduct and serious misconduct

These policies support fairness, consistency, clear kōrero (Communication), and shared accountability across our workplace. If you are unsure about a process, please speak with your manager or contact us on 0800 007 709.

These policies support fairness, consistency, clear kōrero (Communication), and shared accountability across our workplace. If you are unsure about a process, please speak with your manager or contact us on 0800 007 709.

We are committed to a workplace where every person is treated with mana, fairness, dignity, and respect. This reflects our kawa and our responsibility to uphold manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, and pono in the way we work with one another, tangata, whānau, partners, suppliers, contractors, and the wider community.

Discrimination, harassment, victimisation, or any behaviour that diminishes another person's mana has no place at Interconnected Care NZ. We expect all kaimahi to act with aroha, respect, and accountability. Concerns will be taken seriously and may lead to formal action where required.

He taonga nā te whānau o Jacob Crown, he mea tuku ki tō tātou rōpū — our Mihi Whakataki and ngā uara matua that guide every relationship we hold.

This handbook may be updated from time to time as our mahi, legal obligations, services, and organisational needs change. When changes are made, we will aim to communicate them clearly so kaimahi understand what has changed and what is expected.

This handbook does not form part of your employment agreement unless this is clearly stated. It is, however, an important guide to our shared expectations, kawa, policies, and ways of working. It may be referred to when understanding the rights, responsibilities, and obligations that apply during your employment.