Iwi Chairs Call on Maori MPs to Stand Strong for Whānau Ora
Wednesday 6 May 2015
Iwi Chairs in the Whānau Ora Partnership Group have expressed their profound disappointment in the criticism that some
Maori MPs have made in the rush to grab a soundbyte on the development of the Whānau Ora approach.
“Today we have been meeting with iwi chairs from throughout Aotearoa at Whangaehu Marae, to discuss the pressing issues
impacting on whānau, hapu and iwi” said Raniera (Sonny) Tau, Chair of the Whānau Ora Partnership Group.
“We are dismayed that some Maori politicians would buy into the beat-up by politically motivated tirades which do
nothing but bring this kaupapa into disrepute.
“We need our people to continue to have faith in their own answers; to be proud of the gains that have already been made
in enabling our whānau to be self-managing”.
“The amazing potential of Whānau Ora to find solutions based on the aspirations of whānau, is comparable to other
break-through moments in Maori history such as the momentum of kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa and wharekura; the
establishment of Maori Television and iwi radio” said Mr Tau.
“Why would we turn the spotlight on ourselves, and expect an initiative which is still evolving to rectify generations
of neglect or indifference from the state?
“Up and down our respective rohe we have felt the buzz of whānau working together to create plans to support one another
and addressing the things that matter. We pay tribute to the many thousands of whānau, the Whānau Ora collectives, the
Regional leadership teams, the governance groups, the Commissioning Agencies (Te Pou Matakana, Te Putahitanga o Te
Waipounamu and Pasifika Futures), the navigators, the action researchers and the marae, the hapu, the iwi who are
standing strong in the face of such criticism.
“As Iwi chairs we salute their staunch commitment to our whānau; and we welcome the advice that has come forward from
the Auditor General and the Productivity Commission, as giving us insights into what needs to be addressed in our
pathway forward” said Mr Tau.
“We expect more from our Maori MPs and we call on their support to encourage all our whānau to achieve successful change
in their lives”.
The Partnership Group is a high level strategic forum established between Ministers and Iwi Leaders to drive the future
of Whānau Ora forward. The Iwi Chairs represented on the group include: Naida Glavish, Rāhui Papa, Sir Mark Solomon,
Richard Steedman and Selwyn Parata.
ENDS