The CEO Of the Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency is heading to court to contest the procurement process of Te Puni Kokiri in relation to the recent tendering process. At risk are hundreds of jobs and more than a hundred partners. In a Statement the CEO, John Tamihere has said (posted to social media):
“Please be advised that documents have been filed in the High Court in Wellington contesting the Te Puni Kokiri Whānau Ora Commissioning Procurement Process. We have 116 Partners, the crème of Māori expertise, skill and capability throughout Te Ika-ā-Maui who are all interested parties. On that basis we have provided two Lead Affidvaits in regard to the evidence being adduced at this hearing. A first call for our application will occur Monday 31st March 2025 in Wellington and we will keep you appraised of our sense of travel thereafter. On behalf of the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, its Board of Directors and all of our Partner network we want to make it very clear that this is a process contesting a Crown Agency, contesting this Government’s approach to Māori and contesting Te Puni Kokiri. It has nothing to do with damaging the reported winning tenderers. If they become collateral damage in this regard that is a matter for Te Puni Kokiri and its leadership to resolve.”
In a recent interview with Waatea the CEO of TPK said: “This is about strengthening. This is about taking an opportunity. This is about making sure that Whānau Ora, if we are successful, is positioned to be able to do more in the community,”
