He Pānui Pāpāho / Media Release

26 Haratua 2017

More funding needed for Whānau

Te Pou Matakana chair Merepeka Raukawa-Tait is pleased more funding has been set aside for Whānau Ora but added extra money is needed to make real generational changes for whānau.

Raukawa-Tait said Te Pou Matakana is already providing innovative Māori-led solutions to uplift whānau and identified Whānau Direct and Collective Impact as two programmes delivering positive outcomes.

Yesterday Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell announced $76 million – an extra $10m over the next four years - has been ear marked for Whānau Ora, from a total 2017-2018 budget pool of $80.5 billion.

Te Puni Kōkiri – the Government Ministry who administers Whānau Ora - receives 0.65% of the total budget across Health, Education, Social and Justice. Whānau Ora receives just 0.16% of that budget.

Merepeka acknowledged Prime Minister Bill English’s continued financial support of Whānau Ora, but said this was a drop in the ocean.

“Whilst Te Pou Matakana recognises Minister Flavell in his efforts for extra funding, the reality is, it is not enough,” Merepeka said.

“Our results speak for themselves. Over 6,000 whānau have achieved immediate outcomes through Whānau Direct. It has provided whānau with resources and support for those moments when it matters most and has helped build their capacity and capability.”

Te Pou Matakana has supported more than 45,000 individual whānau members. This has been achieved through partnerships with 80+ recognised high performing Whānau Ora providers throughout the North Island.

“Our partner providers ensure monies invested in Te Pou Matakana Commissioning, have positive and accountable outcomes for whānau,” Merepeka said. Page 1 of 2

“But we believe all funding to support whānau, whether it be via Ministry of Social development, Education or Health, should be delivered through the Commissioning Agencies.

“The fact that Government has now adopted the Te Pou Matakana outcomes framework shows we are ahead of the game and on the right track.”

Te Pou Matakana was established in 2014 and is one of three Commissioning Agencies. In the past year, Te Pou Matakana has also partnered District Health Boards and key community organisations to co-design and co-fund effective Collective Impact outcomes-based programmes.

“Collective Impact is a quantum leap in supporting whānau who have multiple and complex needs,” Merepeka said.

“Collective Impact moves money from silo funding – where individual organisations work on part of a problem – to co-designing programmes that support solutions.”

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