Focus on Procurement – Tupono Pahi, procurement and funds advisor at Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori
The key to getting wins for agencies and suppliers rests on relationship building and learning. Tupono talks through his views on how he achieves results while also working as the sole procurement advisor at Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, the Māori Language Commission.
Tupono Pahi, Kaitohutohu Tauhoko me te Kaitohutohu Pūtea at Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. Photo: Supplied
Where are you from?
He uri ahau nō Ngāti Rereahu, nō Ngāti Hauā anō hoki.
I descend from Ngāti Rereahu and Ngāti Hauā.
I live in Pōneke, I was also born and raised here.
Growing up you would have found me at the wharf or Oriental Bay doing bombs and these days I am mostly at the pools teaching my 1-year-old how to manu.
What did you train in and where did you study?
I developed my procurement skills through the Kaimahi Uplift Programme at Te Puni Kōkiri in the Progressive Procurement project team. While at Te Puni Kōkiri, with support and mentorship from the project team, I was able to provide procurement support to the kaimahi of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori and learn on the job.
What attracted you to a role in procurement – and what keeps you here?
Procurement lets me support people to make smart spending decisions that deliver real value and aligns with our values at Te Taura Whiri.
What are 3 things the public do not know about the role of procurement in their lives?
That there are rules. Procurement shapes everyday services, ensures fairness, and focuses on outcomes rather than just the lowest price. And how through procurement, economic and social outcomes can be achieved for the people of Aoteaora.
Can you please detail your top 3 achievements from your time in procurement that you are most proud of?
Supporting kaimahi capability, delivering proportionate procurements, and embedding the values of Te Taura Whiri into everyday practice. A key highlight was engaging directly with Māori and small business owners through the Progressive Procurement project to better understand the barriers that businesses have with government procurement.
You’re the sole procurement advisor for Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. How do you handle the challenges of working alone?
Plan early, manage expectations, communicate turnaround times early, lean on my mentor Ruia Harris and utilise the wider procurement community.
Do you have any advice for other people who are the only procurement specialist in their organisations?
Keep things simple and ask lots of questions to ensure you understand the need. Consider what value looks like for your situation. Plan ahead, and don’t be afraid to ask for support.
What has been the most interesting procurement you’ve undertaken at Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori?
The services or goods we are procuring are contributing to our work at Te Taura Whiri, which is to promote the use of te reo Māori as a living language and as an ordinary means of communication. So, it can interesting and difficult balancing cultural, delivery, and value considerations.
What has been the most challenging procurement you’ve undertaken at Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori?
Balancing what’s best for the organisation while ensuring public value is prioritised can be tricky at times. Procuring services or goods that you aren’t familiar with can be interesting. I lean on the experts or wider support in these scenarios. While challenging, you get to learn something new.
Does your procurement work support the Māori Language Awards?
Ngā Tohu Reo Māori, the Māori Language Awards, is an event that honours the achievements of people who are making a notable contribution to the normalisation and revitalisation of te reo Māori. It’s a privilege that through my procurement role I get to play a part in supporting this important event. Kia whakanuia te reo Māori.
Do you have any ideas you can share about increasing procurement job opportunities for Māori?
Clearer pathways, stronger mentoring, and better visibility of procurement as a career. There are kaimahi within organisations that can be mentored into a procurement role. These mentors would need additional support and resources.
In an ideal world where you were not confined by a budget, what would you introduce to procurement that could help the industry function and develop?
More investment in capability building for procurement practitioners and for Aotearoa businesses. Through supporting our procurement practitioners, we can deliver the best public value for the people of Aotearoa.
In your opinion, what is Aotearoa New Zealand’s greatest contribution to the procurement community here or overseas?
Our strong focus on public value, fairness, and outcomes beyond cost is a great contribution. Supporting the economy of Aotearoa and achieving economic and social outcomes through policy, is something to be proud of.