Foreword from Ministers

Tēnā tātou katoa, otirā koutou e whaiwāhi ana ki tēnei Pānui Whāinga a te Kāwanatanga, mō Ngāi Māori.

As we were preparing this Statement of Intent, we learned of the devastation inflicted on Christchurch by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake. There was a huge loss of life, of New Zealanders and foreign nationals, and thousands more who suffered serious injury and loss of treasured possessions, homes, businesses and livelihood. I want to convey my aroha to all those who have suffered. I would also like to acknowledge the collaboration and coordination between agencies and iwi that sprung into action almost immediately. I was very proud of the efforts of Te Puni Kōkiri and Ngāi Tahu who worked together to set up a Māori earthquake response within days of the earthquake. The rebuilding of Christchurch has begun and my ministry will continue to offer its support in these efforts in whatever way it can for as long as is possible.

During my term as the Minister of Māori Affairs commencing in November 2008, Te Puni Kōkiri has supported me well in delivering on the priorities of my portfolio, particularly in shaping the Government’s overall direction and focus of generating change in New Zealand’s economic performance.

A Māori Economic Taskforce has been operating since the 2009 Jobs Summit and was established to progress responses to the economic downturn. That Taskforce has made an impact in pursuing a number of critical Māori economic development issues including supporting Māori capacity to participate in public-private partnerships, science and innovation, and international business. During the last year, significant progress has been made on a package of economic initiatives designed to enhance Māori business productivity, export growth and Māori Tourism.

The Māori business delegation participation in the Shangai Expo last year provided a platform to build and strengthen relationships between Māori and Chinese. I intend to pursue the positive outcomes that arose and apply concerted effort to establishing strong Māori-China business relationships, within the context of the New Zealand Inc China Strategy.

Of particular significance more recently has been the establishment of a leadership role in implementing the Whānau Ora Approach. This approach is distinctive in that it recognises the collective nature and way in which whānau organise and asserts a positive role for whānau within society. Considerable work and associated tight timelines has seen good progress made to date by the Responsible Minister Hon Tariana Turia and Te Puni Kōkiri. Together they have established policy parameters and commenced its roll-out with the first tranche of successful providers being announced in October 2010.

Other major areas of work progressed over the past twelve months have included:

• Policy development underpinning the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill in areas such as customary title, the treatment of non-nationalised minerals and the right to development;
• Shaping the proposals for Constitutional review and reform;
• Commissioned an independent Review of the Māori Language Strategy and Sector; and
• Continuing with the high priority and resource intensive Treaty Settlements process.

Building on these initiatives, five key priorities have been agreed by Government that will be the focus for Te Puni Kōkiri for the balance of the Parliamentary term and beyond.

Māori Culture and Indigeneity

Strong and vibrant culture and indigeneity continue to be defining factors in Māori wellbeing, and in shaping national identity. It is an area of public policy leadership in my portfolio and is the foundation for policy and service intervention, and investment in community led initiatives across other sectors, that the Māori Affairs portfolio contributes to. Within this broad area Te Puni Kōkiri will continue to assist me in a range of work, including progressing the review and reform of the Māori Language sector. I anticipate bringing the recommendations of the Independent Panel, established to review the Māori Language sector, to Cabinet in the latter part of the 2011/12 financial year. I expect that this work will lead to reform of the Māori Language Act and set out the future direction for Te Puni Kōkiri contribution to revitalising the Māori language.

Crown-Māori Relationships

The quality of relationships that underpin interactions between Māori and the Crown continues to be of utmost importance in the conduct of government. I expect Te Puni Kōkiri to continue to bring significant effort to bear across the spectrum of Crown-Māori relationship management. Specifically, they will:

• continue to support my Ministerial role in co-leading the Constitutional Review with a particular focus on ensuring a robust and informed dialogue with Māori;
• continue to support the Government’s priority of settling all historical Treaty claims by 2014;
• advise on, and progress, Māori rights and interests in natural resources, with an immediate focus on fresh water, and the RMA reform programme; and
• work towards building a new era of Crown-Māori relationships that are focused on the changing landscape of moving from remedial, to future focused post settlement environment

Māori Economic Opportunities

The Māori asset base and Māori entrepreneurship continue to be valuable, but under-performing contributors to the wider New Zealand economy. My expectations are for stronger and more export oriented Māori participation in the economy, with a particular focus on the primary sector (where Māori are significant asset owners) by supporting new opportunities in infrastructure investment, facilitating Māori participation in the Rugby World Cup 2011, and supporting initiatives that accelerate skills acquisition among Māori. I will also be looking to invest in Māori enterprises with a particular emphasis in Christchurch and I plan to build on the very positive outcomes arising from the Māori business delegation to Shanghai; and in realising the economic potential of Māori land, scope a review of Te Ture Whenua Māori.

Whānau Ora

Implementation of Whānau Ora policy across a wide range of Māori Communities will remain a key priority for the Māori Affairs portfolio and Te Puni Kōkiri. As the lead agency for implementation of Whānau Ora they have operational responsibility for the delivery of the Whānau Ora approach. As Minister responsible for Te Puni Kōkiri, I look forward to continuing a close working relationship with the Minister Responsible for Whānau Ora, and other Ministers instrumental in empowering whānau to take control of their future. I also continue to be committed to other initiatives that support Whānau Ora, including the Whānau Social Assistance programmes established last year, and the Māori Wardens’ programme.

Whole of Government Effectiveness for Māori

Effectiveness for Māori is the responsibility for Minister of Māori Affairs the whole of government, not just the Māori Affairs portfolio. Statistics show that Māori do not experience the quality of citizenship that other groups in New Zealand enjoy so it is important that a greater level of performance and accountability for Māori outcomes, on the part of all state sector agencies be put in place. I shall require Te Puni Kōkiri to work closely with central agencies and the wider public sector to focus more sharply on effectiveness for Māori. To support this critical area, Te Puni Kōkiri will take the necessary steps to increasingly equip the public with better information to enable them to assess for themselves the appropriate mix of services needed for their communities.

Finally, as the Minister responsible for Vote: Māori Affairs, I look forward to a close working relationship with other portfolio Ministers to achieve positive results for whānau and Māori. This Statement of Intent gives all readers a good feel for how Te Puni Kōkiri will support me to do this.

I am also pleased to enjoy a positive working relationship with the Associate Minister of Māori Affairs the Hon Georgina te Heuheu; the Responsible Minister for Whānau Ora Hon Tariana Turia, and look forward to working together with Te Puni Kōkiri to ensure our collective success in achieving the priorities of Government.

Mauri ora ki a koutou katoa.

Hon Dr Pita R Sharples
Minister of Māori Affairs

E āku rangatira, e mihi atu ki a koutou mō tēnei mahi e pā ana ki te iwi Māori.

I support the sentiments of my colleagues, Hon Dr Pita Sharples and Hon Tariana Turia in extending to the people of Christchurch sincere condolences for the tragic loss of life, livelihoods and wellbeing in the wake of the devastation caused by the February 2011 earthquake. The courage, resilience and strength of all who call Christchurch their home continue as a shining example of the indomitable nature of the human spirit. We, your fellow New Zealanders, can only watch in admiration, and continue to send our thoughts and practical support.

I am pleased that Te Puni Kōkiri, as part of the Government effort, will continue to play a key role as enabler between Māori and the Government, in rebuilding Christchurch and its communities. In this regard, as the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, I also acknowledge Te Puni Kōkiri for providing a safe place under its umbrella for Pacific people in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, and subsequently.

Te Puni Kōkiri continues to have a very important role in supporting the Government’s priorities of growing the New Zealand economy and delivering to all New Zealanders prosperity, security and wellbeing. In light of the considerable assets of Māori, both human and physical, that role cannot be underestimated.

Māori sit on the cusp of a new development phase. The Māori population at 15.1% of the total New Zealand population is largely youthful and growing, and is projected to rise to 16.6% in 2021. It is estimated that within twenty-five years, one out of every two babies born will be Māori or Pacific. The implications of these figures for New Zealand’s future student population, Māori economic entities help to create a platform for development with considerable potential.

Additionally, Māori are estimated to be the owner/ operators of assets totalling up to $20 billion. The heightened pace of Treaty of Waitangi settlements in the current term of Government, together with the improved utilisation of assets by longstanding

Add to that the growing confidence of Māori over the past 20 years, buoyed by the renaissance of Māori culture and language, improved education outcomes, greater participation in the workforce, increased numbers in the professions and the ranks of the self employed, together with the emergence of successful Māori enterprises, and the role of Te Puni Kōkiri as facilitator and enabler becomes clearer.

The SOI describes a programme of work that recognises Māori and iwi aspirations for their own independence and success, as well as their desire to both participate in and contribute to New Zealand’s future prosperity.

It underpins the Government’s underlying principles for New Zealanders’ wellbeing, namely promoting economic independence and engagement in wealth creation, and nurturing strong families, whānau and communities.

In his foreword the Minister of Māori Affairs has set out, in some detail, the Government’s priorities. Hon Tariana Turia has also articulated the importance of Whānau Ora for the future wellbeing of Māori. I expect that, in all these priorities, the Ministry will contribute to the Government’s wider goal of better, smarter public services, for less, by maintaining a focus on cost effectiveness.

I look forward to working with the Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita Sharples and the Minister Responsible for Whānau Ora, Hon Tariana Turia, to achieve the priorities of Government.

Noho ora mai rā koutou katoa.

Hon Georgina te Heuheu QSO
Associate Minister of Māori Affairs

Tēnā koutou e ngā iwi, e ngā roopu me ngā whānau e ngākau nui ana ki tēnei kaupapa a te Whānau Ora.

Like everyone else, I was shocked and saddened by the destruction of Christchurch from the devastating earthquake. But I was also very impressed with the way New Zealanders from all walks of life came together to help each other in such trying circumstances. With the support of Te Puni Kōkiri and Ngāi Tahu, it was also pleasing to note that He Oranga Pounamu, the Christchurch Whānau Ora provider was part of the first Māori earthquake response. As we look to the future the challenges will be vast, complex and exhausting but I know that with whānau/iwi/agencies working together tirelessly to help, Christchurch will get back on its feet.

Whānau Ora represents a significant investment in whānau and I am excited by the interest generated by the first wave of investment which has resulted in 25 provider collectives encompassing 158 providers. At its very core Whānau Ora is about empowering whānau to take control of their future, to be self-determining, living healthy lifestyles, participating fully in society, and being economically secure.

The Whānau Ora approach will continue to evolve over time. The first few years of implementation is expected to have impacts on:

• a number of providers of services to whānau;
• government agencies that fund service delivery to whānau;
• whānau who engage with those services; and
• more broadly through building the capability of whānau to be more self-managing.

Tracking the practice and action arising from this approach will be undertaken through a range of research and monitoring activities.

The potential for our whānau has never been greater than right now. The spirit of co-operation that is being demonstrated to work together in the interests of whānau is encouraging and I am proud to have witnessed the high level of optimism from the people as a whole.

Te Puni Kōkiri works closely with the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Health in supporting the Whānau Ora Governance Group to facilitate the implementation of Whānau Ora. This is matched across ten regions with Regional Leadership Groups chaired by community leaders and tasked with strategic leadership of Whānau Ora in the region.

Nō reira me ü tonu tātou ki tēnei kaupapa a te Whānau Ora. Mā ihupuku ko momoho, mā momoho ko tau o te mauri, ko puta o te ihu ki Te Whai Ao, ki Te Ao Mārama.

Hon Tariana Turia
Minister Responsible for Whānau Ora

• Next: Ministerial Statement of Responsibility