Te Pae Anamata - Community Health Plan - Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua
Te Pae Anamata: Charting a Path Toward Whānau Wellness in Te Rohe o Ruahine o Tararua
Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua Iwi Māori Partnership Board (IMPB) has unveiled Te Pae Anamata, our Community Health Plan designed to reshape the future of health and hauora for whānau Māori across its rohe and takiwā. Rooted in the wisdom of te ao Māori and informed by the voices of communities, this visionary plan bridges tipuna knowledge with modern strategies to address systemic inequities and uplift holistic wellness for generations to come.
A Plan Forged by Community, Guided by Aspiration
Te Pae Anamata (The Future Horizon) is more than a document - it is the aspirations of our people. Built through extensive collaboration with whānau, hapū, health providers and partners, the plan identifies pressing health needs while amplifying the aspirations of Māori communities. From reducing barriers to healthcare access to revitalising cultural practices that nurture taha wairua (spiritual health) and taha hinengaro (mental health), the plan prioritises solutions that honor Māori autonomy (mana motuhake) and foster resilience.
Alignment with Strategy, Accountability for Impact
Central to Te Pae Anamata is its alignment with the board’s strategic vision to create a health system that is responsive, equitable, and accountable to Māori. The plan introduces clear frameworks to measure and monitor progress, ensuring services deliver tangible value to whānau.
“This plan is our compass,” says Naomi Manu, Chief Executive of Te Pae Oranga. “It challenges us to hold the system accountable while nurturing our people to lead their own wellness journeys. Te Pae Anamata isn’t just about fixing gaps - it’s about rebuilding pathways to thriving futures.”
A Call to Collective Action
The release of Te Pae Anamata marks the beginning of a shared journey. The IMPB invites all stakeholders - health providers, community leaders and whānau - to engage with the plan and contribute to its evolving priorities, and hold partners accountable to its vision.
“Real change happens when we walk together,” emphasises Manu. “We urge everyone to read Te Pae Anamata and share your insights. Together, we can ensure our health system reflects the strength and potential of our people.”
To read the Te Pae Anamata summary click here.
To read the full Te Pae Anamata - Community Health Plan click here.
Uplifting Māori Hauora: The Impact of He Oranga Poutama (HOP) in the Ruahine o Tararua Region
The partnership between Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua and Sport Manawatū to deliver the He Oranga Poutama fund has been a transformative initiative for Māori hauora (health and wellbeing) in the MidCentral region. In its first example of commissioning, Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua, influence and direct almost $200,000 of hauora investment into Māori communities.
This collaboration, rooted in Māori values and practices, has not only increased participation in physical activities but also strengthened community leadership and cultural connection, fostering holistic wellbeing for whānau, hapū, and iwi.
He Oranga Poutama is a unique programme designed by Māori, for Māori, and as Māori, emphasising culturally appropriate physical activities that align with Māori ways of being and knowing. The initiative focuses on five key principles:
1. BY Māori – Activities are governed, managed, and delivered by Māori.
2. FOR Māori – Programmes are tailored to meet the needs of iwi, hapū, and whānau.
3. WITH Māori – Māori language and customs are integral to the activities.
4. THROUGH Māori – Traditional practices and knowledge are incorporated.
5. IN/ON Māori spaces – Activities often take place in culturally significant locations like marae, maunga (mountains), and awa (rivers) .
This approach ensures that Māori communities are not just participants but active leaders in shaping their own hauora outcomes.
Expanding Reach and Impact in the MidCentral Region
The MidCentral/ Ruahine o Tararua region, encompassing Horowhenua, Manawatū, Palmerston North, Tararua, and Ōtaki, has seen significant benefits from He Oranga Poutama. The programme’s expansion into this area has enabled more whānau to engage in physical activities that promote both physical and mental wellbeing.
Key outcomes of the initiative include:
Increased Participation: More Māori whānau are participating in physical activities, from traditional sports to culturally rooted practices like waka ama (canoeing) and kī-o-rahi (a traditional Māori game).
Leadership Development: The programme has nurtured emerging Māori leaders, empowering them to design and deliver activities that resonate with their communities.
Cultural Connection: By incorporating Te Ao Māori (the Māori worldview) into physical activities, He Oranga Poutama has strengthened cultural identity and pride among participants.
Health Equity: The initiative addresses disparities in hauora outcomes by providing equitable access to resources and opportunities for Māori communities.
A Collaborative Model for Success
The partnership between Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua and Sport Manawatū exemplifies the power of collaboration. Te Pae Oranga, as an Iwi-Māori Partnership Board, brings deep cultural expertise and a commitment to whānau-led solutions, while Sport Manawatū provides the infrastructure and resources to deliver the programme effectively. Together, they have created a model that prioritises Māori voices and aspirations, ensuring that the programme is both impactful and sustainable.
Stories of Transformation
One of the most compelling aspects of He Oranga Poutama is its ability to inspire personal and collective transformation. For example, rangatahi (youth) in the Manawatū region have reported increased confidence and a stronger sense of belonging through their involvement in the programme. Whānau have also shared how the initiative has brought them closer together, fostering intergenerational connections and shared experiences.
Looking to the Future
As He Oranga Poutama continues to grow, its potential to drive positive change in the Ruahine o Tararua region remains immense. The programme’s focus on whānau control and cultural relevance ensures that it will remain a cornerstone of Māori hauora for years to come. By investing in Māori leadership and community-driven solutions, Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua and Sport Manawatū are not only improving health outcomes but also paving the way for a brighter, more equitable future for all .
The partnership to deliver He Oranga Poutama has been an example of progress for Māori hauora in the Ruahine o Tararua region. Through its culturally grounded approach, collaborative model, and transformative impact, the initiative stands as a testament to the power of Māori-led solutions in achieving holistic wellbeing.
Supporting Hauora Māori: Insights from the National Hauora Māori Services Dashboard
The Hauora Māori Services National Commissioning Performance Dashboard released on Monday 3rd February, highlights the impact of health and wellbeing services in our rohe, showing strong engagement with whānau Māori, high performance in assessments, planning and referrals and strong whānau satisfaction. With over 5000 whānau engaged in Hauora Māori Services over the July – September 2024 reporting period, achievement of key performance indicators for our rohe sits at 97%. Of particular note is the extent to which Hauora Māori services in this rohe exceed national targets. For example, providers and whānau together almost quadrupled the target relating to whānau achievement of two or more priority outcomes. Other highlights from the key performance indicators are shown in the following table:
Whānau satisfaction is high with 100% of those surveyed reporting a positive experience. The strengths lie in cultural support (Te Ao Māori domain at 90%) and in health services with a 92% outcome achievement. Almost 62% of service users are Māori; 53% are under the age of 20 and only 2% are kaumatua. The data shows a higher use of ‘mental health’ and ‘substance use support’. This is likely influenced by the type of hauora Māori services currently funded by Te Whatu Ora / Health New Zealand.
Treaty Principles Bill Oral Submissions - Day 1
Day 1 of submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill set a powerful tone as esteemed speakers including Ta Taihakurei Durie and Whaea Ani Mikaere shared their insights. The bill, which seeks to solidify the principles of TeTiriti o Waitangi in New Zealand’s legislative framework, has drawn significant public attention, and these submissions highlighted the importance of honoring tangata whenua perspectives.
Ta Taihakurei Durie, a prominent legal scholar and advocate for Māori rights, emphasised the need for the bill to reflect the true intent and spirit of Te Tiriti. He urged lawmakers to ensure the principles remain grounded in the partnership, protection, and participation that the Treaty embodies, rather than being diluted or misinterpreted.
“If the bill were to pass, I believe our government would be the laughingstock of the Western world”, said Ta Taihakurei Durie.
Whaea Ani Mikaere, a respected academic, barrister, solicitor, and author, delivered an impassioned submission highlighting the need to center mātauranga Māori and uphold Tino rangatiratanga. She challenged the government to take a bold and authentic approach to the legislation, ensuring it does more than pay lip service to the Treaty's legacy.
She argued that the Treaty reaffirmed “supreme political authority to Tino rangatiratanga of the rangatira” but “delegated kāwanatanga to the crown so that it could regulate the conduct of British citizens who were living here in Aotearoa.
“The Crown occupies its current position of privilege by virtue of the fact that it has lied, cheated, and infected its way to dominance during the decades immediately following the Treaty of Waitangi,” Mikaere said. “Now, the precise detail of the process by which the Crown acquired dominance may vary from iwi to iwi, from rohe to rohe, but the general pattern remains depressingly constant”.
Video from Day 1 of Oral Submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill can be viewed by clicking here.
Celebrating Heritage, Enriching Education: Muaūpokotanga Day Returns
Local educators gathered for Muaūpokotanga Day, an annual professional development event organised by Muaūpoko iwi to deepen teachers’ understanding of iwi history, cultural values, and Māori perspectives. Held in the heart of the Muaūpoko rohe (region), this day fosters collaboration between schools and tangata whenua, encouraging teachers to weave authentic Māori narratives into their classrooms.
The event features interactive workshops led by Muaūpoko knowledge holders, immersive storytelling sessions, and guided discussions on historical landmarks and ancestral stories unique to the iwi. Participants explored resources designed to help integrate te ao Māori (Māori worldview) into curricula while honoring the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
By equipping educators with locally relevant insights, Muaūpoko aims to nurture cultural competence and inspire a generation of students to value Muaūpoko’s narratives. As one past attendee shared, “This isn’t just professional development—it’s a meaningful step toward reconciliation.”
Schools across the region are encouraged to participate in this transformative opportunity. Together, we can ensure that Muaūpoko stories and wisdom continue to shape compassionate, informed futures.
Whānau Voice
From August to December 2024, John and Sen embarked on Round 1 of the journey to collect Whānau Voice within the Mid-central rohe covering Ōtaki, Horowhenua, Papaioea, Manawatū, and Tararua.
Engaging whānau and hapū/ Iwi to gather Whānau Voice is a legislative requirement of Iwi Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs) as part of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.
Several collection methods have been used including interviews, surveys and workshops. Ensuring Whānau have Data Sovereignty is at the forefront through a robust consent process, secure storage and giving kōrero back to whānau.
Round 1 has seen good coverage in Tararua and Papaioea with Whānau interviews. We would like to increase engagements with Whānau through interviews in Manawatū, Ōtaki, and Horowhenua for Round 2.
We have seen good coverage in Manawatū, Tararua, and Ōtaki with Whānau workshops. We like to increase Whānau workshops in Horowhenua and Papaioea.
We have seen minimal engagement with Whānau surveys being the least preferred method by Whānau, however will be increasing online access across social media platforms, website, and pānui as an option.
Tāhū Ora, the operational arm of Te Pae Oranaga o Ruahine o Tararua, has welcomed Rārite Mātāki in the role of Data Analysis and Policy to support the theming, findings, and analysis of Whānau Voice from Round 1.
We look forward to sharing the insights and the actions taken from Round 1 in the coming weeks. Keep your eyes and ears peeled!
