He kupu mō mātou

As mandated by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Te Tauraki is the Ngāi Tahu entity with responsibility for the promotion of health and wellbeing aspirations within the Ngāi Tahu Takiwā, amplifying the voice and needs of whānau Māori.

During colonial state land purchase negotiations within the Ngāi Tahu Takiwā, government agents promised the building and maintenance of schools and hospitals for Ngāi Tahu communities as part payment for tribal lands.  But these promises were not fulfilled, and became part of Te Kerēme, the Ngāi Tahu Claim.  As the Waitangi Tribunal wrote in 1991, this became “an essential part of [the] overall claim for recognition that the Crown had yet to fulfil the terms of the purchases”. A Crown historian also admitted to the Waitangi Tribunal that the government’s provision of medical care to Ngāi Tahu was “woefully inadequate”.

Te Tauraki, therefore, continues the work of Ngāi Tahu, Papatipu Rūnanga and whānau Māori across generations.  ‘Te Tauraki’ is a significant term for Ngāi Tahu, encapsulating our pursuit of the promises and guarantees made by the Crown within the Ngāi Tahu Deeds of Purchase. ‘Tauraki’ has three relevant meanings: it can mean to be incomplete or unfulfilled, to guarantee or promise; or to grieve for. Our name is a tohu and a reminder that our job is to give effect to the promises agreed between our people and the Crown.

We will hold the Crown to account and work within the health system to ensure the promises and guarantees of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our Ngāi Tahu Deeds of Purchase are finally, and rightfully, fulfilled, and that Ngāi Tahu aspirations for health and wellbeing are realized.

Te Tauraki operates as an Iwi-Māori Partnership Board recognized under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. Te Tauraki is supported to do so by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu who agreed to the development of a single Iwi-Māori Partnership Board for the Ngāi Tahu Takiwā.