A commitment to working together and delivering better services and outcomes for Ngāpuhi whānau and taitamariki was formalised today.

Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi and Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement today in Kaikohe.

The Ministry and Iwi will co-design and invest in areas which reflect their shared interests and priorities for Ngāpuhi. Together, they will identify and realise individual and shared opportunities to support the development, aspirations and outcomes for Ngāpuhi communities.

Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi Chief Executive, Lorraine Toki, says “today’s signing acknowledges our shared values with Oranga Tamariki and the important work we have already done together, most recently with the launch of Mahuru, the new Taitokerau Youth Remand Service. It also formalises a mutual commitment of working together to ensure the wellbeing of all Ngāpuhi taitamariki and whānau.”

Ms Toki said the vision for Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi is 'Kia tū tika ai te whare tapu o Ngāpuhi - where the sacred house of Ngāpuhi stands strong'. “Our house will be strong when there are no Ngāpuhi taitamariki in state care, when they are all culturally connected, and when whānau needs and aspirations are the centre of all collaborative discussions and decisions.”

Gráinne Moss, Chief Executive of Oranga Tamariki says this partnership is vital to New Zealand’s success. “We are all in this together, and if we partner we are stronger. Keeping children with whānau, and providing kaupapa Māori approaches to our work is vital. We’re committed to working differently, and value the leadership of iwi.”

Leaders today signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement, which is based on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, recognising a proactive Māori-Crown relationship.

Backgound and principles of the partnership agreement:

• Develop a joint strategy to improve social outcomes for Ngāpuhi tamariki and whānau. The development of this strategy will be led by Ngāpuhi. The strategy will set out the partners’ shared objectives or goals for the next five years and define the scope of activities under this Strategic Partnership Agreement

• Build a collaborative approach between Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi and Oranga Tamariki in the development of policies, practices, systems and investment approaches that contribute to the effective achievement of agreed outcomes

• Oranga Tamariki will inform Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi of its investment priorities in a way that enables a coherent, coordinated and responsible approach to contracting and investment. This includes enabling Ngāpuhi to contribute to planning for the region and taking a collaborative approach to procurement so that solutions can be developed that avoid duplication and make the most of the strengths of the parties’, whānau, hapū, iwi and the community

• Oranga Tamariki will endeavour to ensure that the term of all Oranga Tamariki contractual arrangements are for a minimum of three years. This is to ensure that the provision of sustainable services and initiatives that can lead to durable change, as opposed to ‘quick fix’ programmes that generate further contracting

• Share information on complementary initiatives and approaches across relevant agencies and the broader public sector.

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