Latest news with #TamaPotaka
Scoop
10 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
Allegations Public Money Used By Whānau Ora For 'Electioneering' To Be Investigated
Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK) has launched an independent review into allegations of inappropriate use of public funding appropriated for Whānau Ora commissioning services. The independent review relates to allegations of funding misuse by two agencies, Te Pou Matakana Limited - otherwise known as the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency - and Pasifika Futures Limited, and would focus on whether the agencies met their contractual obligations when using the public money. The review followed Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka seeking urgent advice on "electioneering concerns" relating to an advertisement encouraging Māori to sign-up to the Māori electoral roll paid for by Te Pou Matakana Limited released this week, and the revelation Super Rugby franchise Moana Pasifika had also received Whānau Ora funds. Te Puni Kōkiri chief executive and secretary for Māori development Dave Samuels said Te Puni Kōkiri had written to both organisations looking for an explanation. "It is in everyone's best interest that we find out what happened. We must safeguard taxpayers' money which is why I have commissioned a thorough review to get to the bottom of these serious allegations," Samuels said. The reviewer and terms of reference for the review were expected to be announced next week, however, Outcome Agreements signed with the two agencies and whether they met their contractual obligations would be in scope. Te Puni Kōkiri said after an open procurement process Whānau Ora had shifted to a new and transparent funding model with data-driven insights, which would make it easier to measure outcomes and ensure value for money. Commissioning contracts with Te Pou Matakana Limited and Pasifika Futures Limited end on Monday, and four new commissioning agencies begin Whānau Ora contracts the next day on 1 July. Te Pou Matakana Limited and Pasifika Futures Limited have been approached by RNZ for comment.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Allegations public money used by Whānau Ora for 'electioneering' to be investigated
Moana Pasifika allegedly received $770,000 a year from the Whānau Ora contract with Pasifika Medical Association. Photo: Andy Radka/ActionPress Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK) has launched an independent review into allegations of inappropriate use of public funding appropriated for Whānau Ora commissioning services. The independent review relates to allegations of funding misuse by two agencies, Te Pou Matakana Limited - otherwise known as the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency - and Pasifika Futures Limited, and would focus on whether the agencies met their contractual obligations when using the public money. The review followed Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka seeking urgent advice on "electioneering concerns" relating to an advertisement encouraging Māori to sign-up to the Māori electoral roll paid for by Te Pou Matakana Limited released this week, and the revelation Super Rugby franchise Moana Pasifika had also received Whānau Ora funds . Dave Samuels, chief executive of Te Puni Kōkiri has called for the 'thorough review". Photo: TPK Te Puni Kōkiri chief executive and secretary for Māori development Dave Samuels said Te Puni Kōkiri had written to both organisations looking for an explanation. "It is in everyone's best interest that we find out what happened. We must safeguard taxpayers' money which is why I have commissioned a thorough review to get to the bottom of these serious allegations," Samuels said. The reviewer and terms of reference for the review were expected to be announced next week, however, Outcome Agreements signed with the two agencies and whether they met their contractual obligations would be in scope. Te Puni Kōkiri said after an open procurement process Whānau Ora had shifted to a new and transparent funding model with data-driven insights, which would make it easier to measure outcomes and ensure value for money. Commissioning contracts with Te Pou Matakana Limited and Pasifika Futures Limited end on Monday, and four new commissioning agencies begin Whānau Ora contracts the next day on 1 July. Te Pou Matakana Limited and Pasifika Futures Limited have been approached by RNZ for comment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Minister fears public funding used for electioneering
media te ao Maori about 1 hour ago Minister Tama Potaka is concerned that public funding may have been used for electioneering, after a Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency advertisement encouraging Māori to sign up for the Māori electoral roll was released this week. Potaka spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Tama Potaka seeks review of Māori roll ad featuring Tāme Iti
Whānau Ora and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka is asking Te Puni Kōkiri officials to urgently review a new advert encouraging Māori to sign up to the Māori roll. Potaka is concerned about how the advert – which appears to be released by Whānau Ora – was funded, saying if
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka asks for urgent advice after 'electioneering' concerns
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka has asked his officials for urgent advice around "electioneering" concerns related to a Whānau Ora advertisement encouraging Māori to sign up for the Māori roll was released this week. The half-hour ad was rolled out by the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency this week, featuring artist and activist Tama Iti (Ngāi Tūhoe). The agency's chair Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, a former Te Pāti Māori candidate, has defended the ad as being part of her mission to advance Māori wellbeing, but senior ministers on Wednesday raised alarm. Speaking to reporters at Parliament, Potaka said he had written to Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK) - which administers funding for Whānau Ora - for an assurance that public funding had not been used for "electioneering". "In the event that public funding that has been set up to help whānau in need, if that has been used for electioneering or any improper purposes that is inappropriate," he said. "I've asked TPK to look into the matter." Potaka said the potential misuse of public fund would be "unacceptable" and he expected to get advice on the matter "ASAP". Labour MP and former Whānau Ora Minister Peeni Henare said he supported Potaka's query to TPK. "It was clear that there were questions after the last election with respect to some of the expenditure by groups looking towards trying to get votes," Henare said. Acting Prime Minister David Seymour told reporters a government department should never engage in such politics. "The point of elections is the New Zealand people should be able to elect someone to control the government departments. The government departments shouldn't be trying to control the process that's supposed to control them, which is the election," Seymour said. Asked what the difference between the Electoral Commission promoting getting enrolled and the agency's advertisement, Seymour said the Electoral Commission had a clear mandate. "The Electoral Commission does not encourage people to vote one way or another. It does not encourage people to register on the roll. It simply gives information about when people can enrol and how they can enrol," Seymour said. "Government departments do not have a mandate to participate in politics. They're supposed to be apolitical, whatever their message may be." New Zealand First leader Winston Peters told reporters: "If something's unfair going on, we'll stop it." In a statement, Te Puni Kōkiri Deputy Secretary for Regions, Grace Smit, said the agency holds two contracts with TPK for Whānau Ora services, one of which expires on Monday. "Te Puni Kōkiri can confirm that we have today written to Te Pou Matakana asking for an explanation to these serious concerns regarding funding use, political neutrality and conflicts of interest." TPK would not comment further until they received a response, Smit said. The Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency has been asked for fresh comment. Speaking earlier on Morning Report , Raukawa-Tait was unapologetic and compared the ad to the Electoral Commission's campaign to encourage people to enrol. "Get involved, get yourself on the roll, and we're saying it's the Māori roll. And obviously when we trying to encourage young people, they're not going to go on the general roll, so let's be clear about that," Raukawa-Tait said. "If you're going to go on the general roll... you're going into basically the mainstream parties. Māori issues never come to the fore in the mainstream parties... so this is why it is necessary." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
