Policy: Standards of Integrity and Conduct
(POL-337)
1982
Issue Date 24 April 2025
Approved by GM People, Governance and Capability
Act
Owner Director People
Team
Author
Principal Employment Relations
1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to set out the standards of conduct Kāinga Ora - Homes and
Communities requires of all Kāinga Ora employees and contractors, as well as the additional
standards we require of people leaders at Kāinga Ora.
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These expected standards of professionalism contribute towards Kāinga Ora - Homes and
Communities delivering our statutory objectives, our statutory functions and adhering to our
operating principles, which wil in turn enable us to build and maintain the trust and confidence of
Kāinga Ora customers and communities across New Zealand.
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Kāinga Ora people are expected to read and understand this policy and exercise good judgement in
ensuring their actions and behaviours always comply with these standards. In the event of any
doubt, they should check whether an action, decision or behaviour is consistent with these
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standards before committing to it. Advice can be sought from People Leaders or People Partners.
2. Scope
This policy and any related guidelines apply to all Kāinga Ora employees (including permanent,
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casual and fixed term), contractors, consultants, secondees, cadets, apprentices and interns
(‘Kāinga Ora People’). These Standards of Integrity and Conduct do not address every situation
Kāinga Ora People may encounter. They must be read in conjunction with the relevant legislation,
regulations, standards, policies, procedures and guidelines. Suppliers may also be required to
comply with the standards set out in this policy when delivering products or services on behalf of
Kāinga Ora.
4. Policy statements
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Kāinga Ora was established under the Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities Act 2019 (this Act).
Our statutory objective (or purpose) as set out in this Act is to contribute to sustainable, inclusive
and thriving communities that—
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a) provide people with good quality, affordable housing choices that meet diverse needs; and
b) support good access to jobs, amenities, and services; and
c) otherwise sustain or enhance the overall economic, social, environmental, and cultural well-
being of current and future generations.
We achieve this by delivering functions and adhering to operating principles set out within this Act,
for customers and communities throughout New Zealand.
Every person at Kāinga Ora has a part to play in ensuring we achieve these statutory requirements.
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Our standards of integrity and conduct ensure Kāinga Ora People conduct themselves consistently
in a manner that supports this outcome and maintains the trust and confidence of Kāinga Ora
customers as well as our wider stakeholders, which ultimately includes all New Zealanders.
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In summary, our standards of integrity and conduct require us to:
- Meet the requirements of Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission’s Standards of Integrity
and Conduct, which al public servants are required to comply with.
- Align our actions and behaviour to Ō Tātou Uara - Our Values.
- Perform our duties effectively and efficiently.
- Contribute to a productive and constructive working environment.
The full standards of integrity and conduct for Kāinga Ora People are set out below.
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Meet the requirements of Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission’s Standards
of Integrity and Conduct
As public servants, Kāinga Ora people are expected to act with a spirit of service to the community
and meet high standards of integrity and conduct in everything we do.
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Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission’s Standards of Integrity and Conduct sets out the
standards that apply to al public servants across New Zealand. They require us to be:
the
Fair:
- treat everyone fairly and with respect
- be professional and responsive
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- work to make government services accessible and effective
- strive to make a difference to the wellbeing of New Zealand and all its people.
Impartial:
- maintain the political neutrality required to enable us to work with current and future
governments
- carry out the functions of our organisation, unaffected by our personal beliefs
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- support our organisation to provide robust and unbiased advice
- respect the authority of the government of the day.
Responsible:
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- act lawfully and objectively
- use our organisation’s resources carefully and only for intended purposes
- treat information with care and use it only for proper purposes
- work to improve the performance and efficiency of our organisation.
Trustworthy:
- be honest
- work to the best of our abilities
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- ensure our actions are not affected by our personal interests or relationships
- never misuse our position for personal gain
- decline gifts or benefits that place us under any obligation or perceived influence Act
- avoid any activities, work or non-work, that may harm the reputation of our organisation or of
the Public Services
Further information is available from the Public Service Commission:
https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/guidance/guide-he-aratohu
Align our actions and behaviour to Ō Tātou Uara - Our Values
Kāinga Ora values reflect who we want to be as an organisation. We use the values to guide our
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behaviour and the decisions we make as we go about our day-to-day work. The values are:
Manaakitanga – People at the Heart
To live Manaakitanga, we:
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• respect each person and their whakapapa (genealogy)
• show integrity in everything we do
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• inspire trust by trusting others
• show aroha (compassion) and empathy for each other
• actively listen to understand
• support each person to achieve their aspirations
• celebrate what we achieve, individually and collectively.
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Mahi Tahi – Better Together
To live Mahi Tahi, we:
• welcome and embrace diverse perspectives
• involve people in a timely and meaningful way
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• recognise the strength of connection between people, communities and whenua (land)
• generously share ideas, knowledge and information
• trust in each other's expertise and abilities
• question and chal enge constructively
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• take responsibility and do what we say we’ll do.
Whanake – Be Bold
To live Whanake, we:
• think outside the box, finding new ways to do things
• speak up when we believe there’s a better way
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• hold ourselves to a high standard
• approach chal enges with courage and persistence
• respond to changing circumstances by being agile and adaptable
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• learn from each other and from our experiences
• understand and own the impact of our actions.
Further information is available from Atamai Ō Tātou Uara - Our Values.
Perform our duties effectively and efficiently
Performing our duties to a consistently high standard is fundamental to our ability to deliver our
statutory objectives and functions, in line with our operating principles. This requires us
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- Wil ingly undertake al duties set out in the position description or statement of work, and any
other reasonable duties that are required.
- Always follow the reasonable instructions of People Leaders.
- Perform all duties to meet or exceed the standards required, as articulated by People Leaders,
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policies, procedures, KPIs, performance expectations, project milestones or other similar
measures of achievement or output.
- Contribute meaningfully towards organisational, business unit and team goals, objectives and
the
KPIs.
- Engage constructively with informal and formal performance and development processes,
including 1:1s, Delivering and Developing, and any informal or formal corrective approach (as
set out in the Standards of Integrity and Conduct Procedures POL-337A).
- Take ownership of our own professional and personal development needs, for both our current
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role and future career path.
Contribute to a productive and constructive working environment
We need to perform and behave to a high standard collectively as well as individually. We all have a
part to play in creating and maintaining a work environment that supports everyone to perform to
the best of their ability. To achieve this, we are required to:
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- Make reasonable efforts to support colleagues or co-workers to perform to the standards
required.
- Recognise and respect each other’s individual and collective achievements.
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- Identify and appropriately act on, or respond to, any opportunities for improved quality,
effectiveness or efficiency in the work that we do, or that we are involved in.
- Ensure our own performance and conduct does not unreasonably or adversely affect the
performance of others.
- Engage constructively with change by being flexible, adaptable and open minded to new ways of
doing things.
- Comply with all Kāinga Ora policies, procedures, processes and legislative requirements.
Additional standards for People Leaders
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People Leaders are responsible and accountable for leading their teams and managing the
individual employment relationships with their people, as a representative of Kāinga Ora, within
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their delegated authority.
In addition to the standards for all Kāinga Ora People, our People Leaders are expected to:
- Consistently role model the Standards of Integrity and Conduct set out in this policy and Ō Tātou
Uara - Our Values.
- Support all team members to adhere consistently to the standards of integrity and conduct
contained in this policy, and the performance requirements of their position.
- Address any performance or conduct concerns fairly, consistently and constructively by applying
our relevant procedures (refer to the Standards of Integrity and Conduct Procedures) and the
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People Management Delegations.
- Always act within the level of delegated authority assigned to the position.
- Proactively support and guide the performance, development and behaviour of team members
using the resources and tools provided.
- Positively and professionally implement all organisational or managerial decisions,
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requirements, policies, procedures and changes as appropriate to the Leader’s position as a
Kāinga Ora representative.
- Encourage team members to ask questions and raise any conduct or integrity concerns. Make
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sure that no one is treated unfairly as a result of speaking up.
5. Addressing breaches of this policy
Any alleged breach of Kāinga Ora policies or guidelines by Kāinga Ora employees will be addressed
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in line with the Standard of Integrity Procedures POL-337A. Breaches by other Kāinga Ora People
wil be addressed in line with the processes that apply to their engagement with Kāinga Ora.
6. Related policies, legislation, and documents
Related Kāinga Ora policies:
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POL-341 Acceptable Use of ICT Policy
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POL-111 Conflicts of Interest Policy
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POL-338 Protect Disclosures Policy
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H-227 People Management Delegations Policy
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POL-336 Health, Safety and Security Policy
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•
SK-POL-002 Privacy Policy
Other related Kāinga Ora documents:
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POL-337a Standards of Integrity and Conduct Procedures
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POL-336A Health, Safety and Security Guideline
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Collective Employment Agreement
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Individual Employment Agreements
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Employee Position Description
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Relevant legislation, regulations and standards:
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Kāinga Ora Values
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Crown Entities Act 2004
Act
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Clean Slate Act 2004
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Employment Relations Act 2000
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Equal Pay Act 1972
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Harassment Act 1997
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Health Safety at Work Act 2015
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Human Rights Act 1993
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Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities Act 2019
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Privacy Act 2020
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Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022
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Public Service Act 2020
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Public Service Commission Standards of Integrity and Conduct
11. Document control
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Date
Reviewed/Modified by
Comments/Descriptions of changes
the
October 2024
People Team
Update
October 2019 People Partnership Team Update for Kāinga Ora
Details of previous versions of policies and guidelines will be stored in the Kāinga Ora document
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management system (Objective).
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