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Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell is looking for answers why whanau can get help going through Te Puea Marae that they can’t get if they go direct to state agencies.
Since the marae threw its doors open to the homeless at the start of winter dozens of whanau have passed through and helped to find housing and even work.
Mr Flavell says he’s asked for case studies that explain what is happening and why the marae is more effective than many state agencies.
"Clearly our people feel valued, they feel wanted, they don't feel oppressed or put down or whakamaa when they go to the marae as opposed to when they go to some of the state agency buildings where people have got umpteen clients. So I'm trying to paint a picture about what Te Puea is doing, the secret recipe, and I think a lot has to do with the fact we have something based at a marae where people interact differently, that is the nature of marae," he says.
Mr Flavell says it could mean a recommendation that marae be used for delivery of services.
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