‘Always take the weather with you’ – Aotearoa New Zealand social work in a dynamic global society

Abstract

Social work in Aotearoa New Zealand and in the international community has weathered many storms over the years. The forecast is for further challenges ahead as the world continues to grapple with economic uncertainties, changing political forces and environments. While in the South Pacific, indigenous and local models of practice are being recognised, developed and refined, social work is also shaped by the global context of our profession. This article reviews the history of the 2000 International Definition of Social Work (International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), 2000) and explores the increasing diversity of voices behind the proposed new definition to be presented forratification at the Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development in July 2014. The influence that social workers from our small South Pacific nation are having on the future of global social work is then explored from the perspectives of an emerging social work student and one who has been active in the profession for over three decades.