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June 13, 2025
Rawiri Waititi – celebrating Whanau Ora and reflecting
Waatea Team
Posted On June 13, 2025
Download AudioRawiri Waititi is a current Member of the 53 rd Parliament and co-leader of Te Pāti Māori.
Rawiri Waititi, co-leader of Te Pāti Māori, has been a vocal and active advocate for Whānau Ora, the Māori-led approach to social development that puts whānau (families) at the centre of wellbeing. His work in this space reflects a broader commitment to Māori self-determination (tino rangatiratanga) and a rejection of “one-size-fits-all” models imposed by mainstream government agencies. Before entering Parliament, Rawiri Waititi was involved at a grassroots level, working directly with communities and whānau across Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and the broader Eastern Bay of Plenty. His work has included leadership roles in education, health, and iwi development-all of which aligned with the kaupapa of Whānau Ora: empowering whānau to lead their own solutions.
As an advocate for indigenous models of care, Waititi has long argued that Māori must not only be consulted but lead the design, delivery, and evaluation of services that affect their lives. He often cites Whānau Ora as a working example of this approach, calling it a blueprint for decolonised service delivery.
