Salient Māori News Items to 25 July 2025
Whānau Ora Funding Review
- Earlier this month Te Puni Kōkiri released the Terms of Reference of an “Independent Review into Alleged Inappropriate use of Whānau Ora Funds”. Their website indicates the review relates to allegations concerning the use of funds by Te Pou Matakana Ltd, and separately by Pasifika Futures Ltd. The Terms of Reference state:
- “On 25 Pipiri 2025, Te Puni Kōkiri observed news media reports about Te Pou Matakana launching an advertising campaign encouraging Māori to enrol on the Māori Electoral Roll. The reports could raise questions as to the inappropriate use of funding under the outcomes agreements, public sector integrity (in particular political neutrality), and conflicts of interest.”; and
- On 18 Pipiri 2025, Te Puni Kōkiri received allegations in a media enquiry from the New Zealand Herald about Pasifika Futures allocating Whānau Ora funding to a professional rugby franchise, and other conflicts of interest in contracting decisions by a senior executive.
- The reviewer, Doug Craig, Director of RDC Group, is required to review and report back on these allegations, and the final report is expected to be completed this month. Te Puni Kōkiri has indicated they will release the findings of the review. Further information is here:
Independent review into alleged inappropriate use of Whānau Ora funds [i]
Appointments and Awards
- Parekawhia McLean has been appointed as a board member of Health New Zealand. (The board has been re-established).
- Hamiora Bowkett has been appointed as a Crown Observer to Health New Zealand.
- Ms Oriini Kaipara has been named as the Te Pāti Māori candidate to contest the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election. The Labour Party candidate is Mr Peeni Henare (who has previously held the seat). Mrs Hannah Tamaki from Vision New Zealand is also contesting for the seat. (We are not aware of any other candidates, but nominations are still open.) The by-election date is 6 September.
[i] Workman Enterprises presently provides some advisory services to Te Puni Kōkiri. For clarity Workman Enterprises has no involvement or ‘insider’ knowledge of this review and Pānui is, as always, based only on publicly available information.
