November 06, 2013
New role for TPK


Te Puni Kokiri is getting a shake-up.
Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says his ministry has become too-thinly spread, and it needs to refocus its core functions.
It also needs to change to reflect the way the Crown’s relationships with iwi, hapu and whanau Maori are changing as the country moves into a post-settlement era.
The new Te Puni Kokiri will focus on three core roles:
Providing strategic leadership and guidance to Ministers and the state sector on the Crown’s partnerships and relationships with iwi, hapu and whanau Maori;
– advising ministers and agencies on achieving better results for whanau Maori;
– and developing innovative trials and investments to test policy and programme models.
Dr Sharples says Te Puni Kokiri will establish a new strategic policy unit, and every four years it will be required to publish a long term report forecasting trends for Maori.
It will maintain its regional presence and establish Te Pa Whakawairua, a group of iwi and Maori Leaders to regularly advise the Chief Executive.
The changes will be done on the same staffing and budget.
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