May 09, 2013
Iwi leaders consider Whānau Ora future
Fisheries, water and whānau ora were high on the agenda of this week’s Iwi Chairs Forum, which was hosted by Ngāti Rangi at Maungarongo Marae in Ohakune.
The forum doesn’t make decisions, but it provides a place to share information about issues of concern to Māori.
Ngāti Rangi Chair Kemp Dryden says local MP Tariana Turia came to update the hui on her Whānau Ora model for integrated delivery of government services through Māori providers.
He says a decision could be made in the next couple of months on whether the proposed Whānau Ora commissioning agency will be held inside or outside government.
"There was some rigorous debate from us as iwi, are we prepared, are we ready to tono for that. More importantly, is that Whānau Ora is linked and interlinked with a lot of the other kaupapa we talk about, health, social, economic, all can fit under that banner," he says.
Mr Dryden says iwi are concerned the government system still isn’t serving Māori well, and there needs to be some accountability for poor outcomes.
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