Professor Edwina Pio is AUT University's resident Professor of Diversity. She recently authored a book on the role of worship in the workplace, particularly concerning the worship of minority religions.
"Work and Worship presents the privileges and obligations of working with a diverse workforce which organisations worldwide as well as in New Zealand have to contend with," she says. "What is shared by all these religious groups is a commitment to New Zealand and to live and work in a manner that respects the country, while also adhering to one's personal faith."
The Equal Employment Opportunity Trust conducts research focusing on the state of New Zealand's workplace diversity efforts and holds yearly award presentations for those organisations who have particularly excelled in the area.
Mt Albert's Pak 'n Save won the Equal Employment Opportunity Trust Manaaki Tangata Innovation Award in 2005 for its efforts in recognising the ethnic and religious diversity in its workforce.
Over half of their employees were born overseas, and they pride themselves on their levels of retention.
They make workplace training available in the native language of the trainee, they acknowledge cultural holidays and traditions, and they established a prayer room for their team's Muslim population.
"There's been great progress, but bias still plays a part for employers, particularly when hiring," says Bev Cassidy-Mackenzie, CEO of the Equal Employment Opportunity Trust. "Anything from passing over a non-English sounding name to not having those policies in place is a missed opportunity for employers."
