Whānau Ora agency responds to “mischievous and misleading” statements by Labour MPs

Comments made by Maori members of the Labour Party on Whānau Ora services have been brought to the attention of Te Pou Matakana – the North Island Whānau Ora commissioning agency.

Te Pou Matakana Chief Executive John Tamihere has responded, saying “I find their commentary both mischievous and misleading, their full caucus was briefed by both Te Pou Matakana Chair Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, and myself on the 11th of August last year.”

“The Member for Hauraki-Waikato, Nanaia Mahuta, was personally briefed for three and a half hours, in great detail, on the 18th of April this year.

“She received an individual briefing as she was on sick leave during the original briefing of the Labour caucus. I have invited all Maori MPs, and all members of the House, to place all questions to us.

“Not one MP has requested any information from us directly,” Said Tamihere.

“Finally we would comment that we have been running the Whānau Ora contract for the North Island for nineteen months. The first four years of Whānau Ora were managed by the crown through Te Puni Kōkiri. The Auditor-General has provided a full public report on those first four years – over which Te Pou Matakana had no oversight or say.”

“Notwithstanding the above, we provide both a quarterly and annual report on our commissioning practices to Te Puni Kōkiri, a quarterly report to the Iwi leaders Group, we provide bimonthly reporting to relevant ministers, and our annual report is available to all members and the public on our website.”

ENDS

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