NUMA Hosts a Major Hui for Maori Providers & Collectives

Rau rangatira maa, nga mihi mutunga kore ki a koutou katoa…
i runga i to koutou piripono ki to tatou iwi Maori…awhinatia kia pakari ai.

The National Urban Maori Authority (NUMA) is sponsoring a major hui for Maori Providers and Collectives this Friday at Hoani Waititi Marae in West Auckland.

NUMA Chairman, Willie Jackson, says that the Waipareira Trust’s challenge against the Ministry of Social Development discontinuing their Family Start programme has become an issue of national significance and NUMA is now considering ways of joining Waipareira in the proceedings.

The current legal challenge by the Waipareira Trust against the Ministry of Social Development is based on urban Maori rights under the Treaty of Waitangi. Waipareira believe that Maori Providers are unfairly scrutinized and subject to funding cuts that Non-Maori Providers do not have to contend with. The attack on them from MSD is an example of this.

The Waipareira Trust was one of five Maori providers that were delivering the Family Start programme when Social Development Minister Paula Bennett cancelled their contracts allegedly because of poor performance. Although Waipareira had been given a clean bill of health and passed an independent audit since that initial assessment the Minister has refused to allow the Trust’s contract to continue.

The CEO of the Trust, John Tamihere, then successfully challenged the Ministry’s decision in the High Court and won an interim injunction for Waipareira last week.

The National Urban Maori Authority is made up of the Waipareira Trust, Manukau Urban Maori Authority, Nga Maata Waka (Christchurch), Te Ropu Awhina o Porirua (Wellington), Kirikiriroa Trust (Hamilton), Te Kohao Trust (Hamilton) and Otangarei Trust (Whangarei). We all totally support Waipareira’s challenge.

Willie Jackson says the response from Maori Providers across the country has confirmed that most are feeling under siege from similar attacks on their funding. They support a co-ordinated strategy being developed and a possible new Government Maori Provider group being set up to protect their interests and to act as an independent voice. The hui is open to all Maori providers and collectives.

Powhiri commences 9:30.

ENDS

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