Working effectively with Māori – case studies

We are always working at Te Puni Kōkiri to better understand and share how effective public sector services are delivered to Māori, and how to improve them.

Published: Tuesday, 19 October 2021 | Rātū, 19 Whiringa ā-nuku, 2021

Today we are launching the first two, of what will be several case studies, which show what good effective practice looks like. This is part of the Government’s recognition that lifting wellbeing outcomes for Māori is the responsibility of all government agencies.   

The first case study looks at how Te Puea Memorial Marae has implemented Manaaki Tangata e Rua, an innovative programme which has been helping homeless whānau and single parents into housing and providing wrap around support services since 2017. 

Te Puea has also built strong relationships along the way with a range of organisations, including the Ministry of Social Development. 

MSD co-located at Te Puea marae, and other marae in Auckland, to ensure that whānau received timely, effective housing and support services in a kaupapa Māori setting. Hear from Te Puea chair Hurimoana Dennis and MSD manager Pip Lototau on how this co-location model came about and worked. 

As Hurimoana says, “The practice of care is governed by uniquely Māori cultural concepts of manaaki, aroha, whakapapa and whanaungatanga."

The second case study features Te Arawa COVID-19 Response Hub, which was set up in March 2020 to support Māori with kai, information and essential services. The Hub has also been heavily involved this year in vaccinating many of the Lakes District whānau. There are more than 50 organisations in the hub. 

Watch the interviews with Karen Vercoe, Te Arawa Lakes Trust CEO, Anahera Waru, Te Puni Kōkiri Team Leader, and Phyllis Tangitu, Lakes District Health Board Pou Manukura, as they talk about what made the Response Hub a success.

Karen says, “We’ve got pictures of whānau crying when they got their kai packs. Some of our koeke were interviewed on mainstream media and they talk about just how lovely it was to be cared for.”

See the webpage here.