Making Relationships Count – Exploring how Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand can use monitoring and evaluation to develop trust-based relationships with tangata whenua partners

Relationships are central to effective outcomes in the international development sector yet, there are very few frameworks or indicators to help measure the quality of trust – as the foundation of relationships. This article describes an emergent framework for evaluating trust in a cross-cultural relationship. It is based on a case study of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand and its Indigenous tangata whenua partners. Perspectives on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and measuring trust, are explored from an Indigenous world view. Interviews with five people representing Caritas Aotearoa and two of its Māori partners suggest various types of behaviours that indicate and deepen trust. Through this exploration, culturally competent M&E and the centrality of relationships in expanding evaluation practice is revealed.