Whānau Ora Taskforce Report Released

The Whānau Ora Taskforce Report has been released, providing options for improving social, education and other support services for families and whanau around New Zealand.

The report is the final product of wide consultation involving 22 hui around Aotearoa New Zealand with rural and urban whānau, iwi and service providers during October and November 2009. A further 100 written submissions were considered in response to the discussion document "Whānau Ora: A whānau-centred approach to Māori wellbeing".

The funding for Whānau Ora will come from existing budgets, requiring a reprioritisation of funding from Health, Social Development and Māori Affairs. This will be announced in the Budget in May.

The Taskforce makes six key recommendations in its report:
The Taskforce recommends that an independent Trust be constituted to govern, coordinate and implement Whānau Ora, and report to a dedicated Minister of Whānau Ora.
The Taskforce recommends the establishment of a specific Whānau Ora appropriation(s) to be managed by the Trust.
The Taskforce recommends that Whānau Ora services are integrated and comprehensive, and focused on measurable outcomes that contribute to whānau empowerment.
The Taskforce recommends that Whānau Ora services are shaped by te ao Māori.
The Taskforce recommends that all government agencies with responsibilities for any aspect of whānau wellbeing commit to the Whānau Ora principles and support the Whānau Ora approach.
The Taskforce recommends that the Trust establish regional panels to ensure Whānau Ora contributes in positive and realistic ways in local communities.
The work of the Taskforce is now complete and the government has committed to considering the report and will respond formally within a month or so.

A governance group has been appointed to support Minister Responsible for Whānau Ora, Hon Tariana Turia and also to provide leadership and co-ordination across government agencies and stakeholders.

Three members of the Whānau Ora Taskforce and three government agency Chief Executives have been appointed to manage the programme. They will report to Mrs Turia as Minister Responsible for Whānau Ora. The group is:
Rob Cooper (chair) is the Chief Executive of the Ngāti Hine Health Trust, a Māori-owned provider of social services in Northland.
Professor Sir Mason Durie was chair of the Whānau Ora Taskforce, is Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Massey University and Professor of Māori Research and Development.
Nancy Tuaine of Te Atihaunui a Paparangi (Whanganui) is the manager of the Whanganui River Māori Trust Board and a member of the Whanganui District Health Board.
Leith Comer, Chief Executive Te Puni Kōkiri
Peter Hughes, Chief Executive Ministry of Social development
Stephen McKernan, Director-General, Ministry of Health
A full copy of the Whānau Ora Taskforce Report is available at: http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/pla...