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Subject to the successful negotiation of contract details with Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Tauraki, a subsidiary of Ngāi Tahu, is set to become the next Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency for Te Waipounamu from 1 July 2025.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa has expressed gratitude for the work undertaken by outgoing Commissioning Agency, Te Pūtahitanga.

“We acknowledge the mahi of Te Pūtahitanga over the last 10 years, and their commitment to the kaupapa, values and aspirations of Whānau Ora.

“Te Tauraki will continue this legacy. There has been a long association between Ngāi Tahu and Te Pūtahitanga, and we look forward to working with them again over the next few months to ensure a smooth transition.”

Te Tauraki Board Chair Rakihia Tau says the relentless pursuit of better outcomes for whānau Māori is the priority.

“Even though there is a change of commissioning agency, the intent of Whānau Ora will remain the same under Te Tauraki – whānau first and whānau centred.

“Our work will focus on how we best support whānau to thrive and lead their own journeys towards wellbeing across Te Tau Ihu, the Ngāi Tahu Takiwā, and Wharekauri/Rēkohu.”

He says Te Tauraki, through its function as an Iwi-Māori Partnership Board, currently monitors health inequities for whānau Māori, enabling valuable data, insights, and an understanding of whānau aspirations.

“We take on this important responsibility with both humility and confidence,” says Rakihia Tau.

Te Tauraki will keep whānau and stakeholders updated on progress and send out further information at the conclusion of contract negotiations.

Read this amazing story about “two New Zealand’s” written and illustrated by Toby Morris at the Spinoff.

Te Tauraki was in Rotorua recently for the national IMPB conference where the Minister of Health, Hon Dr Shane Reti delivered his second speech in his role as Minister. His focus was firmly around the future of IMPBs and touched on ‘Community Health Plans’, strategic commissioning, and his expectations for health outcomes. He also mentioned Localities not progressing but did not provide any further plan or guidance on this. Te Tauraki will be asking the Minister’s Office for more clarity. You can read his full speech here:

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/dr-shane-retis-speech-iwi-maori-partnership-boards-rotorua

In early April Te Tauraki hosted the IMPB’s, the Minister for Health, Dr Shane Reti and a number of crown officials in Ōtautahi. The hui was an opportunity to hear from Dr Reti about the vision, priorities and way forward for Māori health outcomes under the new government.

Read more

Govt reinforces commitment to Māori health | Beehive.govt.nz

Dr Shane Reti’s speech to Iwi-Maori Partnership Boards, Christchurch | Beehive.govt.nz

Te Tauraki is now recognized as an Iwi-Māori Partnership Board in Schedule 4 of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.

The area for Te Tauraki consists of the area identified as the Takiwā of Ngāi Tahu Whānui in section 5 of the Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Act 1996.

Te Tauraki is pleased to launch its Strategic Plan for 2023 – 2027.

The Strategic Plan is a living document.  We will revisit it annually and adjust it as needed when the conditions we operate in change.  The Strategic Plan will also be supported by our annually updated Work Plan (to come).  The Work Plan will set out how we will: use our influence in the health sector; support locality planning; and hold the publicly funded health system to account for the benefit of whānau Māori.

In developing this Strategic Plan, we have been conscious of the new opportunities presented within the health sector and the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.  These opportunities provide for a formalized, potentially powerful, role for IMPB’s and we are optimistic that this will directly lead to improved health and wellbeing for whānau Māori.

Yet, we are also practical.  In becoming an IMPB we are working within a Crown space and with organizations set up, directed by, and accountable to Ministers. As such, we are realistic about the speed and extent of change we will be able to implement over the four-year lifespan of this Strategic Plan.  Our focus, then, is tending to the seeds and seedlings created by the health system transformation, and helping these to grow, and eventually bloom, like the Southern Rātā.

We will regularly review our progress, the broader environment, and government policy, and listen to what whānau Māori tell us, to ensure we are taking the right steps for the hauora and wellbeing of whānau Māori in our rohe.  This means our Strategic Plan is a framework for action over the next four years. The specific actions we take will evolve, in line with the conditions, to realise the promises and guarantees of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our Ngāi Tahu Deeds of Purchase.

(Excerpt from Foreword from the Chair, Rakihia Tau, Te Tauraki (2023) Strategic Plan – Kia Maia Te Kupu Tauraki. V1 July 2023).

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is pleased to announce the appointment of the Te Tauraki – the Ngāi Tahu Iwi-Māori Partnership Board. The establishment of Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards is part of the health and disability reform’s commitment to recognizing Te Tiriti o Waitangi and delivering better health outcomes for Māori.  

You can read more here: 

Ngāi Tahu Iwi-Māori Partnership Board Members Appointed – Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (ngaitahu.iwi.nz)