Whānau Ora
Te Tauraki is the Whānau Ora commissioning agency for Te Waipounamu (South Island) and Wharekauri/Rēkohu (Chatham Islands), operating under a 12-year Outcome Agreement with Te Puni Kōkiri.
We contract and support Whānau Ora service providers to deliver outcomes that matter to whānau and communities.
Every investment decision connects to whānau outcomes. We measure social return, support provider capability, and advance equitable results that create intergenerational impact for whānau and communities.
Our commitment
After a Te Puni Kōkiri tender process in 2024, Te Tauraki was selected as one of four commissioning agencies nationwide. We acknowledge the need for reassurance following that transition. We adopted four core principles:
Continuity – The kaupapa of Whānau Ora remains unchanged despite the agency transition
Legacy – We acknowledge and will build upon the successful work of Te Pūtahitanga and their commitment to Whānau Ora kaupapa, values, and aspirations
Commitment – We are dedicated to enhancing health and wellbeing outcomes for whānau
Capability – Te Tauraki brings established connections, community understanding, data insights, and robust infrastructure to this work
Funding opportunity
Whiria Te Tuamaka
Our commissioning approach for Whānau Ora is guided by Whiria te Tuamaka, a narrative that draws on the wisdom of our Kāi Tahu tīpuna.
Tuamaka is the name for a type of rope of multiple strands that is woven together. The term whiri is to weave or plait together. While the term whirituamaka literally translates to plait the tuamaka, it was also used to describe the technique used by tīpuna to cross rivers in Te Waipounamu, especially when in flood.
We use this concept to help frame our approach to the whānau navigation process, naming it Whiria te Tuamaka; a call to unite and collectively weave together the tuamaka to support whānau across our region.
Ngā Wai Pupuke
When tīpuna faced rivers in flood, they didn't turn back. Our tīpuna worked collaboratively to strategise and plan their approach to ensure they would all be able to cross safely. This involved creating tūwhana – specific poles made for the crossing – and helping each other reach safe ground. This is the foundation of our approach to the Whānau Ora kaupapa.
This approach is based on the understanding and belief that whānau have their own skills and strengths.
With support, whānau will navigate external challenges; the economic pressures, system failures, and societal obstacles that constitute the flood conditions that can make crossing difficult.
The whirituamaka strategy involved all members of the tira (travelling party), working collaboratively to cross. Based on their strengths and skills, each member had a role. Some would make the tūwhana, some would assess the best place to cross, and some would navigate the current. Others would position themselves at either end of the tūwhana, interlock their arms, use their pōkeka (rain cape) to divert the current and create calmer waters for the whole whānau to cross safely.
The role of Te Tauraki is to work with our providers to support whānau to navigate the crossing using collective action and intertwined strength. We are guided by he pou tāpapa – to provide assistance and reinforcement in challenging situations.
We honour the legacy of those who came before, building on the strong foundation of Whānau Ora while being clear about what we can achieve together in this current context. We focus on the immediate crossing while never losing sight of the longer journey ahead.
Through our commissioning, we work with service providers who understand that collective whānau strength is the solution. Together, we create the conditions where whānau can navigate challenges, drawing on cultural wisdom and collaborative spirit.
Whānau may be experiencing challenges and pressures, but with the right support, the right tools, and the right people standing together, we can work collectively to ensure all members of the whānau are able to navigate their way across this part of their journey.
This is our commitment. This is Whiria te Tuamaka.
Kaitūwhana services
Whiria te Tuamaka is embedded in Whānau Ora service provision with the use of the term kaitūwhana replacing the previous term navigator.
Currently, 26 Whānau Ora service providers deliver 97 Kaitūwhana roles strategically placed across Te Waipounamu to support whānau.
The allocation model, which is guided by Te Puni Kōkiri, accounts for Māori population distribution and multiple indices of social deprivation. It enables Te Tauraki and Whānau Ora service providers to focus their mahi where it will make a significant difference.
Kaitūwhana work alongside whānau to help them identify their goals and navigate pathways in health, housing, education, employment, and wellbeing.
They connect whānau with the services, support, and resources that strengthen their wellbeing and help achieve outcomes that matter to them. They reinforce links to hapū and whenua.
Map: Whānau Ora service providers
Click on the service provider in the left-hand column list to see their details and coverage area. Whānau Ora service providers cover specified areas, which means not all addresses are able to access the services. Please contact the service provider nearest you to find out if you have access.
Whānau Ora Services Privacy Statement
Te Tauraki Limited (Te Tauraki) is the commissioning agency for Whānau Ora services for Te Waipounamu. This privacy statement explains what information Te Tauraki collects about you and your whānau, and what we do with it.
Whānau Ora starts with your aspirations. We commission services from providers to work alongside you making positive changes for your whānau. To do this well and improve our commissioning services, we need to collect, use and share some information about you.
What information do we collect?
When you use services that we have commissioned through a provider as a third party, we collect personal information from that provider such as:
• Your name, date of birth, and contact details
• The goals you are working on (such as health, education, housing)
• When you started using our services
• What type of support we are providing
• Whether you are still being supported or have finished
The collection of information may occur during the service onboarding process. It may also be collected from a parent or legal guardian, through our website, external agencies and/or third parties.
Do I have to provide this information?
Yes, this information is required. We need this information to:
• Provide you with the Whānau Ora services we commission
• Report on how well the services we commission are working
• Make sure you get the best support available
We need this information to provide you with the Whānau Ora services we commission. You are of course within your rights to decline to provide information, but this would also mean services would not be available to you.
What do we do with your information?
To help improve services we commission and learn what works best, data about the services you receive will be shared with:
Te Tauraki – We supply information about the services you receive so Te Tauraki can coordinate and improve the services it commissions. This is to enable collaboration internally within Te Tauraki for wellbeing purposes and potential opportunities and, for any other lawful purpose considered reasonably necessary to carry out the function of Te Tauraki.
Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development) – We share summary numbers about how many whānau we support and what they achieve. This information does not identify you personally.
Stats NZ – We share information to Stat NZ's Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI). This data will be de-identified (meaning your personal information will be removed) and linked with other datasets for research purposes. The data we provide to the IDI includes:
• Unique identifiers (e.g. NSN, NHI, SWIN)
• Personal information (date of birth, gender, name) for matching purposes if no unique identifier is available
• The outcomes your whānau are working towards
• Start date and service interaction details
Other government agencies – Sometimes Stats NZ may share de-identified information with other government agencies for research that could help improve services for Māori and all New Zealanders
How is my information protected?
Your information is kept safe in several ways:
• Before researchers can use your information, anything that could identify you is removed
• Research is only done on groups of people, never on individuals
• Te Tauraki and Stats NZ have strict security rules to protect all information
• Summary information shared with Te Puni Kōkiri only shows numbers for groups, not individuals
• All information is transferred using secure, encrypted systems
Your rights
You have the right to:
• Ask for a copy of the information we have about you
• Ask us to fix any information that is wrong
• Ask questions about how we use your information
Your obligations
If you provide us with personal information about another person (for example, a whānau member) then you are responsible for ensuring that:
• You have authority to provide the information
• The person is aware you are disclosing their personal information to us
• The person consents to our use of their personal information as set out in this statement
To make a request, contact:
Privacy Officer
Te Tauraki
PO Box 13-046
Christchurch, New Zealand
Email: whanau.ora@tetauraki.co.nz
For complaints about privacy: If you are not happy with how we've handled your information, you can contact the Privacy Commissioner at privacy.org.nz or call 0800 803 909.
Changes to this privacy statement: We may update this privacy statement. If we do, we will put the updated version on our website.
Questions? If you have any questions about this privacy statement or how we use your information, please ask us. We are here to help you understand how your information is used to improve services for you and your whānau.