Māori Communities COVID-19 Fund

$46.75 million in total and 26 contracts signed to accelerate Māori vaccination

18 November 2021

The Government has approved $46.75 million and signed 26 contracts to rapidly accelerate Māori vaccinations across Aotearoa and support the efforts of DHBs to reach the 90% double vaxxed target (as at 18 November 2021).

Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Arawhiti and Ministry of Health have a further $13.25 million left, of the $60 million Māori Communities COVID-19 Fund for Phase One. with dozens of contracts still to be worked through. Phase Two funding (another $60 million) will be used to support Māori to protect their communities against Covid. Some proposals have already been received for Phase Two.

Contracts with providers cover the following regions: Te Pou Matakana (North Island) (1) and Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu (South Island) (1), Te Tai Tokerau (11), Tamaki Makarau (5), Waikato-Waiariki (3), Ikaroa-Rāwhiti (2), Te Tai Hauāuru (1) and Te Waipounamu (2).

Read the Government’s latest announcement here.

What is the Fund?

The Government announced a $120m Māori Communities COVID-19 Fund to fast-track vaccination efforts for Māori on 22 October 2021.

Phase 1 ($60m) of this Fund will provide direct financial support to iwi and Māori organisations, to accelerate vaccination uptake. Rapid vaccination uptake for Māori is our priority.

Phase 2 ($60m) will support Māori, iwi and communities to respond to the new COVID-19 protection framework. Read the original Fund announcement here.

The Fund will increase the number of vaccinated Māori and help meet the 90% fully vaccinated target for every DHB region in Aotearoa. When Auckland DHBs meet this target it will move first into the new COVID-19 protection framework or traffic light system.

How do I submit a proposal?

Proposals for Phase 1 are now being accepted for consideration. Proposals for Phase 2 are not officially open yet, however, we will accept them to be considered at a later date. More information will be made available on this website.

Te Puni Kokiri administers the fund alongside Te Arawhiti and the Ministry of Health.

If you do have a proposal or initiative, you are encouraged to discuss this with your local Te Puni Kōkiri office.

Fund proposals can be made through Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Arawhiti or the Ministry of Health. Please only make one proposal through the most appropriate agency.

Initiatives that may be considered for funding?

The fund will complement existing vaccination roll-out efforts. It is focusing on areas where Māori vaccination rates are low – Whanganui, Lakes District, Northland and Tairawhiti DHB areas. These areas are likely to change so please check the Ministry of Health website.

Other priority groups include: rangatahi, whānau without permanent housing, tangata whaikaha, whānau who are not well-connected to health services and Māori with mental health and addiction conditions and whānau in rural and remote communities.

The funding initiatives should help connect vaccinators with whānau and whānau with vaccinators. This includes:

funding for communications for Māori (especially priority groups) to encourage and facilitate vaccinations
calls and community outreach to Māori particularly in areas where vaccination rates are low and for vulnerable people
establishing and maintaining 0800 numbers
promotional materials, social media, website updates
mobile vaccination services
vaccination events
training community members to become vaccinators
vaccination incentives
workforce clinics

We may also look to contract:

Transitional emergency housing providers
Mental health providers in the community
Drug and alcohol rehabilitation providers
Disabled providers or advocates.

How is the Fund being governed?

A Ministerial Oversight Group is overseeing the Māori Communities COVID-19 Fund, made up of the Minister of Finance, Minister for Whānau Ora / Māori Health, Minister for Māori Crown Relationships (Te Arawhiti), Minister for Māori Development, Minister for Social Development.

What has been approved?

The Government has approved investment, in principle, for 21 proposals, under which sit 61 contracts. To date 26 contracts have been signed for multiple Māori organisations, iwi and organisations aimed at boosting Māori vaccination rates, through the new $120m Māori Communities COVID-19 Fund.

Total funding approved by Ministers across the 5 tranches is $46.75m

Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Arawhiti and the Ministry of Health are working through funding contracts with the successful Māori organisations and iwi to ensure that funding can be delivered to where it is needed as fast as possible.