Positioning Māori at the centre wins Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua Iwi-Māori Partnership Board and Sports Manawatū the 2025 Sports New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa, Jim Maniapoto Memorial Taonga Excellence in Impacting Māori Participation as Māori Award.
The late Tariana Turia said “We are our greatest opportunity for hope.” Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua Iwi-Māori Partnership Board, together with the support of Sport Manawatū, have come to better understand the depth of her words as we have seen whānau become active orchestrators in their own lives.
The Jim Maniapoto Memorial Taonga Excellence in Impacting Māori Participation as Māori Award, presented by Sports New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa recognises groups and organisations that significantly contribute to the wellbeing of whānau, hapū, and iwi Māori through physical activity. This award celebrates initiatives thatchampion Māori-led wellbeing through kaupapa Māori and intergenerational connection. We celebrate the true orchestrators of this success to those who have awoken ancestral templates of hauora that empower Māori to participate as Māori in sports and recreation
Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua in partnership with Sports Manawatū, was selected for this award due to their abilty to elevate Whānau Voice into Māori hauora/wellbeing resource commissioning in the Mid-Central region.
“It is pleasing to see the potency of whānau-led outcomes being recognised in this way. This kaupapa is authentically whānau-led in both the design and delivery of initiatives. Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua had the great privilege of walking alongside whānau through the delivery of their respective kaupapa”, says Naomi Manu, Pitau Whakarei / Chief Executive, Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua.
“This collaboration is a powerful example of what becomes possible when Māori are at the centre, leading their own hauora outcomes.
“We know this kaupapa has already inspired change across Aotearoa, with Sport NZ encouraging other regions to walk alongside iwi in this way.”, says Pareanna Simons, Kaupapa Māori Investment Coordinator, Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua.
Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua (Te Pae Oranga) commissioned a social impact assessment of their commissioning approach with He Oranga Poutama. The report highlighted the transformative power of iwi-led commissioning. Te Pae Oranga investment decisions are grounded in mātauranga Māori and local leadership. This delivers not only measurable economic returns but also profound social impact across whānau, hapū and iwi.
He Oranga Poutama, as an example of Te Pae Oranga-led commissioning proves that whānau-led and whānau-driven approaches are not just culturally resonant but are systemically effective. The social impact assessment report highlights the fact that our commissioining approach catalyses intergenerational wellbeing, leadership development, and strengthened identity in ways that conventional models cannot replicate.
While the social impact report revealed a strong return on investment, with a benefit-cost ratio of 8.6, this figure still undervalues the true impact of He Oranga Poutama, as many of its most powerful outcomes represent non-monetised benefits.
You can read the full Analysis of Impact on the Manawatū Region here:
He Oranga Poutama Social Impact Assessment – Analysis of Impact on the Manawatū Region