Whānau Voice Grant Inaugural Funding Round Opens
Pitch Us Your Best Idea!
Today Te Taura Ora o Waiariki launches our very first Whānau Voice Grant kaupapa, a $50,000 community fund created to uplift whānau-led ideas that can transform health and wellbeing across our rohe.
We know whānau are the experts in their own lives. This grant is about supporting those who have ideas, experiences, and stories that can make a real difference.
“Got an idea that can make a difference to hauora? Now’s your chance to share your whakaaro, your way,” says Te Taura Ora o Waiariki General Manager Aroha Dorset. “We believe whānau are the experts in their own health journeys. This grant helps bring those lived experiences to the forefront of change.”
Whānau-led ideas that shape the future
Ten $5,000 grants are available in this first round. Whether your project is just beginning or already underway, it’s your opportunity to shine a light on what works for your people.
Your idea might take shape through hui, wānanga, workshops, surveys, storytelling, or creative projects like film, digital storytelling, or art. What matters most is that your kaupapa captures the voice of your whānau and helps influence how health services are designed in the future.
This isn’t about delivering services, it’s about sharing insights, inspiring change, and making sure Māori voices lead in the transformation of our health system.
Grounded in tikanga Māori
Te Taura Ora represents more than 32,000 Māori across the Waiariki rohe. This grant continues our commitment to Te Tiriti-led, iwi-driven health solutions that reflect our people and values.
“This isn’t just about funding it’s about using creative power with purpose,” says Dorset. “By sharing your stories and ideas, your whānau can help shape a health system that listens to our people and reflects our realities.”
Projects that uplift the voices of kaumātua, rangatahi, tāngata whaikaha, and rural communities are especially encouraged.
Apply now
The Whānau Voice Grant is open from 5 November to 27 November 2025, and all applicants will be contacted by 12 December 2025.
To find out more and apply, visit: tearawaimpb.co.nz/whanau-voice-grant-guidelines
Proposed Pae Ora Bill Sparks Concern as Local Iwi Māori Partnership Board Warns of Silenced Māori Voices
Te Taura Ora o Waiariki, the Iwi Māori Partnership Board (IMPB) has just returned from a landmark national hui in New Plymouth, where 15 Iwi Māori Partnership Boards united to oppose government plans that threaten to silence Māori voices and weaken decades of hard-won health partnerships guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
“What we’ve learned is the public health system is actually not doing really well for our people, and we have known this for many years,” said Te Taura Ora Chair, Hingatu Thompson.
The first monitoring report released by Te Taura Ora o Waiariki IMPB revealed critical gaps in prevention and access for Māori in Te Arawa, highlighting low cancer screening rates and the country’s lowest child immunisation coverage, underscoring the urgent need for greater investment in Māori-led health solutions.
“What was encouraging with the original Pae Ora Act was that mana returned to Te Arawa to take control, to analyse data ourselves with our Whānau Voice surveying that gathers our own information from whānau our rohe to influence priorities.”
“However, now the government’s proposed changes in the Pae Ora Bill threaten to remove iwi’s meaningful participation and advice on the future of hauora for our people.”
Thompson said Te Arawa has maintained strong hauora partnerships across successive governments and will continue to do so. However, the proposed legislation risks sidelining iwi voices by channelling feedback primarily through the Minister-appointed Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC) which lacks representation from Waiariki, instead of empowering locally appointed Iwi Māori Partnership Boards to engage directly at regional and community levels, where real, meaningful change occurs.
“As Iwi Māori Partnership Boards, we have unique regional and local priorities and accountability to our whānau at home. We must work directly with Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand at these levels to influence how services are delivered, who delivers them, and ultimately to achieve better outcomes for Māori in our rohe. The government’s talk of ‘streamlining’ feels like a convenient way to reduce Māori engagement,” Thompson said.
Te Taura Ora o Waiariki IMPB strongly supports:
- Retaining and clarifying the accountability of HMAC to iwi Māori through IMPBs.
- Strengthening IMPB roles to provide regional and local advice to Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand.
- Developing new health strategies with specific actions to improve Māori health outcomes.
- Opposing any amendments to the Pae Ora Act that weaken or replace the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
“The government’s own analysis shows these changes will have minimal positive impact on Māori health outcomes, yet they risk diminishing Māori involvement. We firmly believe that continuing and enhancing the current partnership model will lead to genuine improvements and reduced inequities.”
“While that national hui is only the beginning of a national conversation, common themes are emerging, iwi and IMPBs do not support these proposed changes and question their necessity.”
“We are committed to working together nationally to form a single, strong voice, but improving life expectancy, child immunisation rates, accessibility to health delivery services locally and regionally is where we need to make the ultimate progress.”
Each IMPB, including Te Taura Ora o Waiariki, will submit their own detailed submission to the Health Committee on the proposed legislation by 18 August. Thompson intends to present in person to the select committee on behalf of whānau in Waiariki.
Media Liaison: Sarah Sparks
Email: Sarah.sparks@sparksconsulting.co.nz
Mobile: 021318813
See the photo gallery below for a snapshot of the conference.
Iwi Māori Partnership Boards concerned their role minimised under Pae Ora Act changes
This article was first published on RNZ.
Iwi Māori Partnership Boards are concerned changes to the Pae Ora Act minimises their role.
A national hui hosted by Te Punanga Ora in Taranaki brought all 15 Iwi Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs) together for the first time since their establishment in 2022.
The gathering followed the first reading of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Amendment Bill which is set to ‘rebuild the health system’.
There are four things within the proposed changes that Hingatu Thompson from Te Taura Ora o Waiariki IMPB wants the government to reconsider.
“One is we don’t agree that te Tiriti should be removed out of all legislation. The second thing is, there is a Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC), we support them having a national role, but we think they should be accountable to iwi and we can provide that channel.
“The third thing is there’s a Māori health strategy still within the Act, and we just want to endorse that. There’s no way New Zealand is going to achieve improvement in Māori health without having a plan.”
His fourth concern was the role of IMPBs. Thompson said if their roles were taken away, it would be harder for Māori health to improve.
“It’s about the Treaty relationship, te Tiriti o Waitangi, how Māori engage with the Crown to ensure Māori are well and to make sure there is a difference for all of the inequity that we see because Māori do die younger. We do have access to the same services, but the outcomes are worse.”
It was announced last week that life expectancy for Māori had increased more than any other ethnic group in New Zealand, but the 3.1 year increase still kept Māori at the bottom of the rung.
“It would be interesting to see where those statistics are generated from,” Te Pununga Ora deputy chair Mitchell Ritai said.
From heart conditions to gout, Ritai said certain medical conditions contributed to Māori dying earlier than non-Māori.
“These are all historical issues and we need a system that helps to ensure that these inequities that we’re experiencing as Māori are addressed in the correct way.”
He believed it should be up to local people in communities who should lead the way.
“Interventions, programmes, initiatives to help improve health statistics should be led locally. The change to the Pae Ora Act stops that and that’s one of our concerns is that our voice, and the voice of our whānau, may potentially be silenced with these amendments.”
It was through the Tino Rangatiratanga clause under article two of te Tiriti o Waitangi that got IMPBs off the ground, Ritai said, it was an ability for Māori to have a direct connection to decision makers at a local level around addressing health inequities for Māori.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the Pae Ora legislation was the last of the changes that the “government has made to strip out te Tiriti, to strip out equity approaches to Māori health”.
“It’s gutting for a lot of entities that have been around forever and tried the mainstream health way and seen how it’s failing Māori.
“The sadness is that we’re tangata whenua. We’re the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa. And the government doesn’t think that we’re worth protecting. It’s quite heartbreaking when you look at the level of commitment that iwi have given.”
With the backing of whakapapa and mana, IMPBs are iwi-led and iwi-appointed, therefore they hold aspirations within each of the regional iwi, Ngarewa-Packer said.
“What we’ve been trying to do is go out to create health services in a regional bespoke way that makes sure that you can either go out to marae or go to the kaumātua wānanga, be where rangatahi are and deal with it as best suits for those communities in a regional sense.
“And that’s what the Iwi Māori Partnership Boards are mandated to do… advise and determine where investment should be.”
Public submissions on the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill close Monday, 18 August.
By Emma Andrews of RNZ.
Original Article: https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2025/08/10/iwi-maori-partnership-boards-concerned-their-role-minimised-under-pae-ora-act-changes/
Iwi gather to oppose centralised health reforms
A prominent Taranaki Māori leader has warned the implementation of proposed health reforms would lead to a rise in negative health outcomes for Māori.
Fifteen Iwi-Māori partnership boards, representing nearly one million Māori from around New Zealand, are meeting in New Plymouth for a two day hui to oppose proposed changes to the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act.
Mitchell Ritai, the deputy chair for Te Punanga Ora, the partnership board for Taranaki, said iwi were concerned about how the changes proposed under the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill 2025 would impact Māori.
Ritai said he feared the changes would reduce the ability for Māori to develop suitable local programmes to target such intergenerational health issues as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
“So, trying to break that initially is going to be real difficult when you don’t have the opportunity to have localised initiatives and localised programmes that really target that,” he said.
“What we’ll see is an increase in particular statistics, as we do now, such as in diabetes, obesity and heart attacks.”
He said a local response to Māori health needs was required because each area had its own different priorities.
A 2023 Health New Zealand status report showed that in Taranaki, Māori have higher rates of preventable chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, chronic respiratory disease and certain cancers than non-Māori, which reflected national trends.
“Focusing on areas such as heart disease, elderly, tamariki as well are all important focus areas for us here in Taranaki.”
Ritai said following the hui, the boards would prepare a submission in response to the Bill by August 18.
“It’s important that we have a voice during this process. My preference is that we have greater dialogue with the Government, as opposed to trying to do that through a select committee process.”
Board representatives would hear from Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Green MP Hūhana Lyndon and Labour’s Dr Ayesha Verrall on Friday.
The iwi boards were established by the Government in 2022 to ensure the health needs and priorities of Māori communities were met.
With the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority last year, Health New Zealand said the boards took on strengthened strategic commissioning roles locally.
The boards claimed proposed changes would reduce their statutory role in the health system and were concerned the reforms reflected a broader trend towards centralising control and reducing Māori governance.
The Government stated the Bill aimed to improve New Zealand’s health system by refining the roles of Health New Zealand and Māori health advisory groups to enhance service delivery and reduce bureaucracy.
It would focus on equity, engagement with Māori communities and align with health plans to provide timely and culturally responsive care, the Government said.
Health Minister Simeon Brownsaid in a press release the Government was focused on ensuring New Zealanders had access to timely, quality healthcare.
“These changes are about improving health outcomes by making sure the system is focused on delivery, not bogged down in doing the same thing twice. That means better care for patients through a more connected, transparent and effective health system,” he said.
The Bill passed its first reading in Parliament in July.
Article by Will Johnston [Taranaki Daily News]
Original Source: https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360783847/iwi-gather-oppose-centralised-health-reforms
Iwi leaders unified in opposition against Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill changes
Māori leaders have come together in Taranaki to oppose proposed changes to the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill, which they say will undermine their role in the health system and threaten hard-won gains in Māori health equity. Lineni Tuitupou was there.
Original Source: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=wwXIfr&v=1926571778183675&rdid=5UCyfaiXo9YTCpqD
Te Pākira Hauora Clinic
In early 2025, Te Pākira hosted its very first hauora clinic, supported by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Pikiao, and the response from whānau was incredible.
Insights From Rawiri Bhana on Te Arawa Hauora Data Stories
Te Hiku Radio Interview
I te ata nei kōrero tahi ai mātou ki a Rawiri Bhana e pā ana ki ngā “Te Arawa hauora data stories”, me ngā hua o tēnei mō te iwi o Te Arawa. Anei āna kōrero.
[This morning we had a conversation with Rawiri Bhana about the “Te Arawa hauora data stories” and the benefits of this for the Te Arawa people. Here is what he said.]
Original Article: https://tehiku.nz/te-hiku-radio/kuaka-marangaranga/53517/insights-from-rawiri-bhana-on-te-arawa-hauora-data-stories
Enabling Te Arawa Hauora Data Stories
The hauora data stories of Iwi-Māori whānau living in Rotorua can soon be told by Te Arawa.
Te Taura Ora o Waiariki – Te Arawa Iwi Māori Partnership Board (IMPB) and PHO, Rotorua Area Primary Health Services (RAPHS), have signed a data sharing agreement supporting Te Arawa whānau access to Māori health data and collection.
Enabling autonomy and transparent analysis of Māori health data can assist IMPBs nationally to selfdetermine priorities and monitor health sector performance for enhancing hauora Māori.
Over several months, RAPHS worked in partnership with Te Taura Ora o Waiariki to unravel technical and health system knots that historically prevented secure and specific data sharing. The relationship between RAPHS and Te Taura Ora o Waiariki is enduring. For RAPHS, the agreement reinforces their values of He Ora Whakapiri (Together, we make it better) and the commitment to improve health system outcomes and equity.
“Health data is a taonga, it is whakapapa, holding the genetic journey and experiences of whānau. For RAPHS, the data sharing agreement respects this taonga and is another step toward tino rangatiratanga by enabling data sovereignty for iwi Māori.” – RAPHS CEO, Kirsten Stone
The arrangement empowers Taura Ora o Waiariki to have confidential access to Māori health data that has been compiled and made anonymous. This means personal information such as a person’s name, date of birth, or address won’t be seen and individuals can’t be identified. Data will be
retrieved, analysed, and monitored to inform hauora Māori strategy and outcomes.
“Having access to accurate and timely local data is a game changer for Te Taura Ora o Waiariki. Our agreement with RAPHS will help us to identify and advocate for key changes to policy, service provision, and the funding mechanisms needed to improve quality and access to healthcare for Māori.
Coupled with what whānau are telling us, we can build a clearer picture of where best to concentrate our efforts – having data means we can work smarter” – Te Taura Ora o Waiariki GM, Aroha Dorset
Iwi Māori Partnership Boards Unite in Whakatāne to Lead Regional Health Planning
Iwi Māori Partnership Boards Unite in Whakatāne to Lead Regional Health Planning: Unveiling Community Health Plans & Hauora Māori Priorities
A third of the Iwi Māori Partnership Boards including five from the Te Manawa Taki region have united in Whakatāne to present their Community Health Plans to government officials, fulfilling their legislated function on behalf of Iwi, hapū, and whānau.
As part of the reset of Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, Newly appointed Deputy CE and Regional Director, Catherine Cronin received the Community Health Plans and Hauora Māori Priority Reports highlighting Whānau Voices.
This information was gathered from whānau, hapū and hapori to shape individual IMPB priorities and consolidated into regional priorities to tackle the ‘grim picture’[1] of the state of Māori-health.
“The purpose of our collective is to mahi tahi – to work together- to achieve the health and wellness aspirations of our whānau,” said Kataraina Hodge, Co-Chair of Te Tiratū IMPB.
Collectively, the 6 boards serve a combined Māori population of 285,560.
“Our role is not only integral, but fundamental to the success of Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and the system’s responsiveness to Māori health needs,” said Louisa Wall, Chair of Tūwharetoa IMPB.
The IMPB are responsible for assessing, monitoring, planning and represent local Māori perspectives on the design and delivery of services and public health interventions within localities.[2]
Their shared priorities focus on public and population health, primary and community care, hospital and specialist services and priorities, workforce, data and funding appropriation for a redesigned delivery model.
“We are all experiencing the same levels of high health need for our whānau so the strategic emphasis into the prevention and health promotion space is essential to make meaningful progress,” Hodge said.
Each IMPB collected the voices of whānau through workshops and surveys, blending these insights with data from Te Whatu Ora and Primary Health Organisations to develop comprehensive, evidenced-based reports for each rohe.
This effort upholds the IMPB’s statutory responsibility in their relevant localities.
The Boards have aligned around regional strategies and delivered all key documents within Minister Reti’s expected timelines—most significantly, meeting the 30 September deadline to be ready for co-commissioning opportunities from 1 January 2025.
“Today is another important milestone in achieving our moemoeā (vision) for our whānau. We are actively participating in shaping regional health priorities that we expect will influence funding based on need ahead of the 2025 Budget,” said Aroha Morgan, Co-Chair of Te Taura Ora o Waiariki IMPB.
One critical task ahead is addressing the status of legacy contracts for Māori Providers – to maintain continuity and capacity in the system – which have been extended until 30 June next year.
“We strongly advocate for evergreen contracts for our providers, given the urgent state of our health needs. At every opportunity, we’ve made it clear to politicians and officials: contracts for Māori health providers must be extended and prioritised,” said Rutu Maxwell-Swinton, Co-Chair of Te Moana a Toi IMPB.
The hui was hosted at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, a Ngāti Awa-founded tertiary provider known for its essential role in training and developing the Hauora Māori workforce. The Boards expressed deep appreciation to the Wānanga for providing the venue for this important briefing.
“Since our establishment, we’ve been following our statutory responsibilities to ensure that we have robust governance structures and operational capability,” one Board member explained.
“We’ve had to set up charitable trusts and ensure that trustees represent iwi and mātāwaka organisations from each rohe, which is no small task.”
The IMPBs have collaborated with Te Whatu Ora and Manatū Hauora navigating changes in legislation, leadership, and planning approaches during the transition to a new coalition government.
“We’ve seen a shift from Locality Plans to Community Health Plans. It wasn’t until July this year that we had clarity on the new Minister’s expectations—before that, we were operating under Labour’s directives,” said Hone Te Rire, incoming Co-Chair of Te Moana a Toi IMPB.
The independent analysis aligns with key government priorities, reflecting a shared commitment to achieving mutual goals.
“It’s a great day for us but it’s got to be taken seriously, I was here 35 years ago and not a lot has changed in Māori health,” said Te Pahunga Davis Chair of Te Punangaora IMPB.
“I live in hope that we can make a difference that we can measure. With that I support our pukapuka being placed into the kete but we’ll be watching you, or we aren’t doing our job.”
The rōpū has heard “loud and clear” the consistent message from whānau about Hauora Māori that mirrors what’s been happening over the last 40 years societally that has led to more highly, complex comorbidities.
“Nothing’s really changed. Now we’re living in a climate of household stress, whether that be income, unhealthy homes, violence, lack of job security – all those determinants of health have doubled down on our people over this last decade especially,” said Davis.
Beyond forming the Iwi Māori Partnership Boards and underpinning flax-roots efforts, there is a shared belief that true solutions lie in our vibrant young Māori demographic, now 978,246 strong according to the 2023 Census.[3]
“Our emerging next generation bring an inspiring energy and a sense of hopefulness for the future. For us ultimately that’s going to play a pivotal part in the shift for addressing health inequities.”
[1] Refer: Pg 53 & 54 Waitangi Tribunal Hauora Report 2019 – like the gap in life expectancy at birth between Māori and non-Māori is 7.3 years for males and 6.8 years for females.
[2] Refer: Section 29 Pae Ora Act 2022 https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2022/0030/latest/LMS659229.html
[3] Refer: https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/2023-census-population-counts-by-ethnic-group-age-and-maori-descent-and-dwelling-counts/#:~:text=In%20the%202023%20Census%3A,from%2018.5%20percent%20in%202018
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Media Liaison: Sarah Sparks Email: Sarah.sparks@sparksconsulting.co.nz Mobile: 021318813
Background:
The collective of Iwi Māori Partnership Boards that in the Te Manawa Taki region are:
- Te Taura Ora o Waiariki IMPB (Te Arawa)
- Te Tiratū IMPB (Tainui Waka, Ngāti Haua & Mātāwaka)
- Te Moana a Toi IMPB (Bay of Plenty)
- Tūwharetoa IMPB
- Te Pūnanga Ora IMPB (Taranaki)
- Toitu Tairawhiti IMPB (Tairawhiti)
GALLERY OF THE HUI
