Many of these whānau achieved improved outcomes in a wide range of areas, including in employment, improved housing, NCEA achievement, reduction in family violence, debt reduction, sport and recreation, vocational training, immunisation, smoking cessation and drivers licencing.

Te Puni Kōkiri Chief Advisor Whānau Ora Nancy Tuaine says the Whānau Ora Annual Summary Report for 2015/16 confirms that whānau engaged by the three Commissioning Agencies are achieving gains in areas important to them and their lives.

“Whānau Ora is an innovative approach in the public sector and this report describes some of the early progress being made,” she says.

“It is pleasing to see the continuing development of the Commissioning Agencies and the work they are doing to support the transformation of whānau.  Commissioning is supporting whānau as a whole, placing them at the centre of planning and decision making and working to their strengths.

“This whānau leadership and ownership is the key to whānau achieving their goals and aspirations.”

For Te Pou Matakana in the North Island, highlights from the report show that most whānau who engaged with Whānau Direct reported achievement of one or more outcomes because of it.

Through Kaiārahi support, outcomes prioritised and achieved by whānau include:

• 66% (248 / 373) of whānau prioritising self-management achieve the relevant certification in an education or training programme.
• 63% (856 / 1,370) of whānau prioritising community participation participate in organised sport and recreation activities.
• 60% (575 / 957) of whānau prioritising financial literacy have developed a financial plan or budget and consistently use this to make decisions.

For Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu in the South Island, highlights from the report show that:

• Whānau Ora Navigators supported whānau to develop 201 whānau plans.  This resulted in 70 whānau self-managing their own whānau goals and aspirations, and 110 whānau were still in contact with a Navigator 

For Pasifika Futures, highlights from the report show that:

• families have made progress in prioritising and reducing debt, having bank accounts, enrolling children in early childhood education and being smoke-free

• families are more active and achieving weight loss, involved in education about healthy eating choices, training to achieve nursing degrees and providing assistance for the wellbeing of Fijian communities through nursing and upskilling.

You can read the 2015/16 Whānau Ora Annual Summary report on the Te Puni Kōkiri website here.