December 15, 2016
Raukawa-Tait keen to turn the tables
The chair of North Island Whanau Ora commissioning agency Te Pou Matakana says it’s time to subject government agencies to the same level of scrutiny as Maori face.
Te Puni Kokiri has just released two reports covering the first year that whanau ora funding has been channelled through the commissioning.
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait says the reports show the outcome-based approach is working, and with the right people and the right leadership the organisations have been able to have a positive impact on whanau.
She says while reporting and accountability are necessary, it seems one-sided.
"Of course what they are saying is 'we are going to apply stringent accountability processes to you.' Well no. Actually we say we can do better. The report and all the feedback to the government must be that we are making a difference to the families so what we have to say is 'now let's shine the spotlight on you.' We have never done that but now is the time to say we are going to turn the tables," Mrs Raukawa Tait says.
She says at times it feels Maori organisations are being tied up in red tape rather than left to do the job they have taken on.
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