1. RAHUI KATENE (Māori Party—Te Tai Tonga) Link to this
to the Minister responsible for Whanau Ora
What is the significant change anticipated in the Whānau Ora approach?
Hon TARIANA TURIA (Minister responsible for Whānau Ora) Link to this
The Whānau Ora approach is intended to place families at the centre of flexible and innovative service provision. It will provide for a different way of working with w’ānau, building on their strengths so that they can take ownership of their own needs. This new approach will see families become less reliant on State agencies, and agencies acting as facilitators rather than fixers.
Hon TARIANA TURIA Link to this
Providers will be selected through a process of expressions of interest beginning in June this year. The Whānau Ora governance group will oversee the expressions of interest process.
Hon Parekura Horomia Link to this
Can the Minister confirm whether any new funding will be set aside for Whānau Ora in the next 4 years, or is it just a “Take from Pita, to give to Paula” approach?
Hon TARIANA TURIA Link to this
We have an agreement at this moment for funding of $134 million over the next 4 years. Who knows what the Budget next year will hold?
Hon TARIANA TURIA Link to this
There is a focus on the Ministry of Social Development contracts and health contracts, at present. Those contracts will be integrated in the first instance, which will make savings and compliance a really important first stage.
Katrina ShanksHon TARIANA TURIA Link to this
The greatest innovation will come from skilled practitioners who are able to go beyond crisis and intervention to build skills and strategies that will contribute to w’ānau empowerment and positive outcomes. This funding encourages Government agencies to be responsive and flexible enough to align with w’ānau aspirations, and it also enables w’ānau ownership of solutions and actions in ways that are unique.
Hon Annette KingAs over 800 non-governmental organisations were part of the Pathways to Partnership programme, many of which were to be fully funded through the Pathways to Partnership funding, which is now being diverted to Whānau Ora, how many of these providers will receive funding under Whānau Ora, and how many will have to operate with less funding?
Hon TARIANA TURIA Link to this
Nobody will operate with less. I cannot give any guarantees about who will receive this funding, because there is an expressions of interest process.
Kelvin DavisCan she explain why Whānau Ora, which was once touted as an overarching programme designed to overhaul the delivery of social services to Māori, with funding of $1 billion, has morphed into a small-scale programme for all New Zealanders that is being run out of Te Puni Kōkiri on a budget of less than that of John Key’s proposed cycleway?
Hon TARIANA TURIA Link to this
The fact is that this is not a programme. There is integrated funding, which, in the first instance for 20 providers, will be well over $100 million—that will be contributed. The money that is being set aside for W’ānau Ora is about the capability of the providers—the training for the navigators. It will be used for the research that will run alongside it. It will be the first time that the Government will have value for money.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Tēnā koe, Mr Speaker. Kia ora tātou katoa. How will providers that are not included in the first wave of providers be supported to undertake a fantastic Whānau Ora approach?
Hon TARIANA TURIA Link to this
This is already happening, and it is really exciting. The Government’s whole approach is about moving towards integrated contracting, trusting communities and families to know what is best.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
What kinds of investments will be made in whānau to realise aspirations of self-reliance and self-management through the fantastic Whānau Ora approach?
Hon TARIANA TURIA Link to this
The important investment will be to restore self-belief in these families so that they do not need the State to be their parent.