Te Puni Kōkiri has moved to clarify who is responsible for delivering Government-funded Whānau Ora services across Aotearoa following recent media coverage linking a petition concerning the Tino Rangatiratanga flag to the former Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency.
The Ministry of Māori Development says the current Whānau Ora commissioning arrangements have been in place since 1 July 2025, with four agencies contracted to deliver services across the country.
The clarification follows public discussion about a petition relating to the Tino Rangatiratanga flag and the involvement of an organisation previously responsible for Whānau Ora commissioning.
Te Puni Kōkiri says the petition is not an initiative of the Ministry or the Government-funded Whānau Ora programme.
Four Agencies Now Deliver Whānau Ora
Under the current arrangements, Te Puni Kōkiri funds four commissioning agencies responsible for supporting whānau and families through networks of community providers and navigators.
The agencies are:
- Rangitāmiro: North Island, north of and including Taupō.
- Māhutonga: North Island, south and east of Taupō.
- Te Tauraki Limited: Te Waipounamu and Wharekauri/Rēkohu.
- Tātou Collective: Supporting Pacific peoples throughout Aotearoa.
The agencies are responsible for commissioning services that help whānau identify their aspirations, access support and improve their wellbeing.
Whānau Ora is designed around a holistic approach, recognising that health, housing, education, employment and social wellbeing are interconnected.
Former Commissioning Agency No Longer Holds Contract
Te Puni Kōkiri has also clarified the status of the organisation referred to in recent media reports as the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, commonly known as WOCA.
The Ministry says the organisation previously held a Whānau Ora commissioning contract, but that agreement ended on 30 June 2025.
It is not one of the four agencies currently contracted by Te Puni Kōkiri.
The distinction is significant because the organisation continues to be publicly associated with the Whānau Ora name, despite no longer holding a Government commissioning contract under the current arrangements.
The Ministry’s clarification concerns the formal delivery and funding structure of Whānau Ora and does not establish a position on the merits of the flag petition itself.
Tino Rangatiratanga Flag Petition Sparks Clarification
The statement follows media coverage of a petition relating to the Tino Rangatiratanga flag.
Te Puni Kōkiri says the petition is separate from the Government-funded Whānau Ora programme and is not being advanced as a Ministry initiative.
The clarification draws a distinction between the activities of organisations previously involved in Whānau Ora commissioning and the responsibilities of agencies currently receiving Government funding.
The Ministry has not provided further details in its statement about the petition’s specific demands or the circumstances surrounding its promotion.
Whānau Ora Services Continue Across Aotearoa
Despite the changes to commissioning arrangements, Te Puni Kōkiri says Whānau Ora services continue to operate nationwide.
The four contracted agencies work through provider and navigator networks to support whānau in identifying goals, accessing services and addressing challenges affecting their wellbeing.
The Ministry says it remains committed to supporting Whānau Ora delivery and ensuring families can access the assistance they need.
For whānau seeking support, the key message is that the Government-funded programme remains operational, with services delivered through the four current commissioning agencies.
The clarification also highlights the importance of distinguishing between organisations that have historically delivered Whānau Ora services and those now formally contracted to manage Government funding.
Te Puni Kōkiri’s central message is that Whānau Ora continues under its current commissioning arrangements, while the Tino Rangatiratanga flag petition is separate from the Government-funded programme.
#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #WhānauOra #TePuniKōkiri #TPK #TinoRangatiratanga #TinoRangatiratangaFlag #MāoriDevelopment #MāoriPolitics #MāoriHealth #HauoraMāori #WhānauWellbeing #WhānauOraCommissioning #WOCA #Rangitāmiro #Māhutonga #TeTauraki #TātouCollective #MāoriSocialServices #MāoriCrownRelations #TeTiritiOWaitangi #Aotearoa
