July 01, 2014
Advocacy role for Te Pou Matakana
The chair of the new Whanau Ora commissioning agency sees it as a chance to hold mainstream government agencies to account.
Te Pou Matakana yesterday took over responsibility for funding whanau ora providers in the North Island.
Merepeka Raukawa Tait says while it will oversee a fraction of the total government social spending on Maori, its close connections with communities and the expertise it will draw on means it can model innovative programmes.
" This is an opportunity for Te Pou Matakana to advocate and to look to see where is money going. Where is money going from other government departments that should have had by now a better outcome and I see advocating advocacy role and a challenging role to say hey you've had this money for so long it really hasn't made a blind bit of difference so we're coming calling. And I'm really looking forward to that part of the job " she says.
Merepeka Raukawa Tait says programmes can be improved if communities have a hand in developing them.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MEREPEKA RAUKAWA TAIT CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=MTk2Mzg=
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