Ngāpuhi has formally moved its long-discussed iwi-led devolution prototype into its next operational phase, with Te Māhurehure Marae in Auckland now being called on to help deliver support for Ngāpuhi whānau living in Tāmaki Makaurau.
An urgent hui was held this week at Ōkorihi Marae in Kaikohe, where iwi leadership confirmed the next stage of the kaupapa aimed at shifting authority, accountability and resources for the care of mokopuna and whānau directly into iwi hands.
Te Māhurehure Marae CEO Tracey Panapa attended the hui following a formal call from Ngāpuhi leadership to assist in standing up services for Ngāpuhi whānau across Auckland. While Te Māhurehure had been involved in earlier discussions around the prototype, this marked the first formal move into operational delivery.
The initiative is being led through Ngāpuhi structures and is designed around hapū, marae and takiwā pathways across Te Taitokerau. The prototype is intended to create long-term iwi-led systems for whānau wellbeing rather than short-term government programmes.
Ngāpuhi leaders say the decision was also made not to establish a separate Auckland-based operation. Instead, the iwi will work alongside established Ngāpuhi-connected providers already supporting whānau in the city, including Te Māhurehure and Papakura Marae.
Te Māhurehure Marae, established in Point Chevalier in 1969 by descendants from Waimā Tūhirangi in the Hokianga, has grown into a major cultural, educational and social service hub in Auckland. Its work includes housing support, health and social services, food distribution, education initiatives and support for tamariki and rangatahi.
The Ngāpuhi prototype begins with an initial Crown funding allocation of $7.5 million, although iwi leadership says the original business case identified significantly higher levels of need among Ngāpuhi mokopuna and whānau.
The kaupapa is also being developed during a period of growing financial pressure for many Māori whānau, including concerns around housing affordability and access to essential support services.
Ngāpuhi leadership acknowledged the years of work undertaken through Te Rōpū Whāiti, hapū structures across Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu, and engagement with Oranga Tamariki and government agencies over the past two years to bring the prototype to this point.
The signing and key discussions were deliberately held in Kaikohe rather than Wellington, reinforcing the kaupapa as one grounded in Te Taitokerau and led by Ngāpuhi communities themselves.
