NZ's own Cultural Detective

Communication Studies lecturer Taruni Falconer has developed a national edition of the global Cultural Detective series

Taruni Falconer is New Zealand’s “cultural detective” – and after nearly four years of sleuthing she’s tracked down six vital clues to our national character.

The AUT School of Communication Studies lecturer says the six values inherent in New Zealanders are ingenuity, informality, earthiness, modesty, restraint and fairness.

Taruni has studied New Zealand culture to develop a national edition of the global Cultural Detective series – a set of online resources aimed at developing intercultural competence. Her edition is being launched this month.

New Zealand is one of the 35 countries profiled in the series which identify six inherent values for each culture.

Taruni says an important aspect of intercultural understanding is realising that the way we behave is motivated by values, beliefs, a “cultural sense” – and that these motivations are often outside our conscious awareness.

Cultural Detective participants identify and explore a culture using the key values as clues to solve cross-cultural “mysteries” and develop practical strategies for enhancing intercultural collaboration. Taruni has carried out intercultural training with the Ministry of Education, health care organisations and New Zealand university administrators.

New Zealand-born and educated, she has been active nationally and internationally in the field of intercultural communication and is a founder of Intercultural Dynamics.