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RNZ News
17 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
Ngāti Toa launch new agency to distribute Whānau Ora funds
Minister for Whānau Ora Tama Potaka took part in a launch for a new commissioning service, Māhutonga, provided by iwi Ngāti Toa, on Monday. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Four new agencies have been put in charge of determining how Whānau Ora resources are distributed to Māori and Pacific communities across the country. It is the biggest shake up in the history of Whānau Ora since it was created by the late Dame Tariana Turia in 2010. One of the new commissioning agencies was launched by Wellington iwi Ngāti Toa at Hongoeka Marae near Porirua this morning. The new commissioning agency which covers the eastern and southern part of the North Island is named Māhutonga, the Southern Cross. Ngāti Toa descendant Te Pūoho Kātene will take up the role of chairman of the new Māhutonga Commissioning Agency. The iwi chose the name Māhutonga because the Southern Cross is visible all across the region covered by the agency and so will always be there to guide their work, Kātene said. "Often our services are treated as the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, Māhutonga tells us to keep our eyes up and to be aspirational and to have those aspirational horizons set by the whānau who [we] are trying to serve," he said. Te Pūoho Kātene, chair of the new Māhutonga Commissioning Agency. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The four new Whānau Ora commissioning agencies - Rangitāmiro, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira (Māhutonga), Te Tauraki (a subsidiary of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu), and The Cause Collective (operating as The Tātou Collective) - will begin commissioning services from providers starting on Tuesday. The three original Whānau Ora commissioning agencies - the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu and Pasifika Futures - were informed by Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK) in early March their long-held contracts would not be renewed. Minister for Whānau Ora Tama Potaka said the procurement process was timely as the original commissioning agencies had held the contracts for more than a decade. "But we also need to see a bit of a step change in how we consider evidence around the delivery of Whānau Ora services and ensuring there is a really critical alignment between the investment of taxpayer funds, doing it in a very transparent improved audited way and the achievement of outcomes." Some jobs at the old commissioning agencies may be impacted, but there won't be wider job losses among providers, he said. "We absolutely back Whānau Ora, we think that a lot of the solutions reside in the communities." Ngāti Toa's Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira deputy chief executive Jennie Smeaton said the iwi had been a Whānau Ora provider since its inception, so it was a natural progression to step into commissioning. Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira deputy chief executive Jennie Smeaton Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone "We dream about the future of our tamariki, mokopuna and whānau living well, being well and being enabled to live as they choose to live and we've had these visions and kōrero for long time and this was our chance," Smeaton said. "We knew we wouldn't have this opportunity [again] any time soon, so it was now or never and we thought we would put our best foot forward." Smeaton said Ngāti Toa had been welcomed by the existing Whānau Ora provider network. The providers and communities have the solutions within their regions, so it's up to Ngāti Toa to support them, she said. "Working with the existing provider network was really important for us to make sure there was continuity of care for whānau as we were phasing in Whānau Ora that we'd be delivering under Māhutonga, and we'll continue to do that for the next twelve months." Smeaton said one thing they had heard from the providers was that the regions are best placed to determine what is best for their communities, and many of them just want to get on and do the mahi. "They have the solutions within their rohe and we're there to tautoko (support) it. "There's a real want and desire to be operating under the Whānau Ora banner." Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira chief executive Helmut Modlik said the first thing they did once they got the contract was to tour the region and meet with the providers. Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira chief executive Helmut Modlik and Māhutonga chairman Te Pūoho Kātene. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone All provider contracts will carry over for the next twelve months and as the year rolls out they will take any opportunities to strengthen the service, he said. "In the first twelve months for the sake of continuity and because we really didn't know enough to do any different there will effectively be a rolling over of all those who are currently providers in the Whānau Ora community." Modlik said the iwi is aware of what it takes to deliver, thanks to their familiarity with the issues on the ground as a long term provider. "We actually see this opportunity as one of doing ourselves out of a job, because we have a very firm belief that the long term benefits that everyone is after can only be achieved by building up the capability and capacity on the ground." The four new commissioning agencies - two in the North Island, one in the South and one for Pasifika - take over from Tuesday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Council Confirms 2025 Appointments To Trust Tairāwhiti
Gisborne District Council has confirmed the appointment of Te Pūoho Kātene and the reappointment of Ron Aitken to the Trust Tairāwhiti Board of Trustees. Deputy Mayor Josh Wharehinga says both appointments bring a wealth of experience to the table, aligned with the Trust's focus on long-term regional wellbeing. 'Te Pūoho brings deep expertise in values-based investment and Māori governance with a strong connection to Te Tairāwhiti. His international perspective and commitment to sustainability, equity and impact will be an asset to the Trust,' says Deputy Mayor Wharehinga. 'We're also pleased to reappoint Ron Aitken for a further term. Ron's commercial expertise and balanced approach reflect his long-standing dedication to the region and its success.' Te Pūoho Kātene is an accomplished executive, strategist and investment leader. Currently CEO of Tapuwae Roa, he oversees an intergenerational fund delivering sustainable community investment. With governance roles across the Ākina Foundation, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, and impact investment funds, Te Pūoho brings strong financial stewardship and a proven ability to align investment with tikanga Māori and community outcomes. Ron Aitken is a Chartered Accountant and experienced business advisor with over 30 years' experience across corporate, SME and public sectors. He currently provides strategic governance through Aitken & Associates and has held senior leadership roles at Leaderbrand. A lifelong resident, he is passionate about building strong, thriving communities through balanced commercial and social development. The new appointments follow the conclusion of trustee John Clarke's term. The Council wished to sincerely acknowledge Mr Clarke's decades of service to Tairāwhiti and his integral role in the Trust. As a founding trustee and former Chair, his leadership and commitment have left a lasting legacy across the region. His contributions to local government, iwi partnerships, and regional development have been immense — and will continue to benefit the people of the region for years to come. Trust Tairāwhiti is the sole shareholder of Eastland Group and the regional development agency for Te Tairāwhiti. Other current trustees on the board are David Battin (Chair), Dr Warren Williams, Nicki Sutherland and Dan Jex-Blake, alongside Mayor Rehette Stoltz. Council has the responsibility of appointing trustees under the Trust Deed, guided by its Board Appointments and Remuneration Policy.
