Te Tauraki has been selected by Te Puni Kōkiri to become the new Whānau Ora commissioning agency for Te Waipounamu (South Island), taking over operations from July 1.
As one of four new commissioning agencies chosen nationwide, Te Tauraki will be responsible for contracting and supporting services that enhance whānau Māori health and wellbeing outcomes across Te Waipounamu.
Whānau Ora is a government-funded approach that recognises whānau as the foundation of Māori society. It supports whānau to identify priorities and build on strengths to achieve aspirations for health, education, employment, and overall wellbeing.
Te Tauraki is committed to building upon the successful work of Te Pūtahitanga, which was the commissioning agency for the past decade, says Te Tauraki Chair Rakihia Tau.
“We honour their legacy while bringing our own established community connections and understanding to enhance outcomes for whānau in Te Waipounamu.”
The transition comes at a time of significant change, with funding reductions and policy shifts in the sector. Te Tauraki has been working through a tender process to select providers for 97 Whānau Ora Navigators across the South Island for the initial six-month period from July to December 2025.
“We’ve had to make some very difficult decisions, but the quality of submissions from service providers has been exceptionally high,” says Rakihia Tau.
Te Tauraki representatives have been travelling extensively to meet with preferred providers face-to-face.
While Te Tauraki is a subsidiary of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the organisation emphasises its commitment to serving all whānau Māori across Te Waipounamu, of which there are 133,936 individuals based on the 2023 census. About 47,000 people living in Te Waipounamu identify as having whakapapa to Ngāi Tahu.
This approach reflects Ngāi Tahu exercising rangatiratanga – leadership and self-determination – in service of the broader Māori community.
“Our obligations are to all whānau Māori in Te Waipounamu,” says Rakihia Tau.
“We’re exercising Ngāi Tahu rangatiratanga in the way we commission services, guided by our values of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga. Our focus is firmly on achieving better outcomes for every whānau we serve.”
Te Tauraki brings established infrastructure, data insights, and deep community connections to the function. The agency has been operating as an Independent Māori Partnership Board (IMPB) since 2022 and now adds commissioning responsibilities to its existing functions.
The new commissioning agency will continue to work with service providers across Te Waipounamu to ensure whānau can access support and connect with services and opportunities that align with their aspirations for the future.
The appointment of Te Tauraki represents a significant step in the ongoing evolution of Whānau Ora, ensuring the kaupapa continues to adapt and strengthen in service of whānau Māori wellbeing across the South Island.