Whanau Ora supports some Maori - not all

S. Paurini made this Official Information request to Ministry of Māori Development

The request was partially successful.

From: S. Paurini

Dear Ministry of Māori Development,

Kia Ora

Whanau Ora support

My whanau have been declined support from the Whanau Ora Commission agency on the grounds that our needs don't "fit" Whanau Ora criteria.

The promised philosophy of Whanau Ora strongly suggests that our whanau needs would "fit" Whanau Ora criteria given we're talking about a plan to address a long history of abuse, neglect and discrimination. A legacy that we are desperate for our children and grandchildren to break free from.

This has been explained to the variety of agencies that we have had to approach and we have been turned away from each agency for the most spurious of reasons at every turn.

We only asked for initial support through Whanau Direct but we're turned away because each agency runs it's own rules.

How can any whanau be independent and empowered for the benefit of their people if your agencies aren't organised or properly resourced to address serious need?

We found that the irony is that we would likely receive support if our challenges weren't serious or were readily addressed with little effort. Your people seem to know very little about advocacy, policy, legislation, eligibility and entitlements. Why aren't other agencies working alongside Whanau Ora?

Why are Whanau Ora agencies under-resourced, underfunded and disorganized?

I started the Whanau Ora journey in 2011 and we were unable to receive any assistance at all.

Under the new Whanau Ora model, nothing has changed. You need to explain why some whanau are supported and some aren't. How serious is TPK and it's Whanau Ora Commission about addressing maori suffering? Not very it would seem.

I have some questions for whoever it is that's meant to be in charge. Whoever he or she is, their doing a bad job.

Yours sincerely

Seann Paurini
Tuwharetoa, Raukawa ki te Tonga

Yours faithfully,

S. Paurini

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From: Mailbox - TPK Info
Ministry of Māori Development

Nau mai, haere mai

 

Thank you for your enquiry.  We check this mailbox daily and will respond
to your enquiry within two working days.

 

 

·         If your enquiry is about Whenua Māori or the Whenua Māori Fund
then it has been automatically sent to the Whenua Maori Team by email
[1][email address].  For information on Whenua Maori [2]read
more here.

·         If you are making a request for information under the Official
Information Act then your enquiry has been automatically sent to the
Ministerials Team by email [3][email address]. For information on OIA
requests [4]read more here.

·         All Māori Housing enquiries should be made to your nearest Te
Puni Kōkiri regional office or [5]read more here.

·         All enquiries about starting or developing your Māori business
should be made to your nearest Te Puni Kōkiri regional office or [6]read
more here.

·         All enquiries about funding should be made to your nearest Te
Puni Kōkiri regional office.

·         All media enquiries must be sent to the Communications Team so
email  [7][email address].

 

Ngā mihi, nā Communications Team

References

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5. http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/whakamahia/mao...
6. http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/whakamahia/mao...
7. mailto:[email address]

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From: Mailbox - OIA
Ministry of Māori Development


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Tēnā koe

Thank you for your Official Information Act request. This is an automatic reply to let you know we received it.

In accordance with the Act, we'll let you know our decision within no more than 20 working days. If you'd like to calculate the timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator here: http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

Sometimes we may need to clarify aspects of a request. You can expect to hear from us soon if that is the case here.

Please note, we publish some of our Official Information Act responses on our web site. We will not publish your name or contact details.

If you have any questions while we're processing your request, please let us know via [email address]

The views expressed in this email and any accompanying attachments do not necessarily reflect those of Te Puni Kokiri. Te Puni Kokiri does not accept any responsibility whatsoever for any loss or damage that may result from reliance on or the use of the information contained in this email or any accompanying attachments.

This email together with any accompanying attachments may be confidential and subject to legal privilege. It may be read, copied and used only by the intended recipient(s). If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by return email, telephone or facsimile and delete this message. You may not copy, disclose or use the contents in any way. Thank you.

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From: S. Paurini

Dear Ministry of Māori Development,
I have withdrawn this request.

Yours faithfully,

S. Paurini

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From: Mailbox - OIA
Ministry of Māori Development


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Tēnā koe

Thank you for your Official Information Act request. This is an automatic reply to let you know we received it.

In accordance with the Act, we'll let you know our decision within no more than 20 working days. If you'd like to calculate the timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator here: http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

Sometimes we may need to clarify aspects of a request. You can expect to hear from us soon if that is the case here.

Please note, we publish some of our Official Information Act responses on our web site. We will not publish your name or contact details.

If you have any questions while we're processing your request, please let us know via [email address]

The views expressed in this email and any accompanying attachments do not necessarily reflect those of Te Puni Kokiri. Te Puni Kokiri does not accept any responsibility whatsoever for any loss or damage that may result from reliance on or the use of the information contained in this email or any accompanying attachments.

This email together with any accompanying attachments may be confidential and subject to legal privilege. It may be read, copied and used only by the intended recipient(s). If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by return email, telephone or facsimile and delete this message. You may not copy, disclose or use the contents in any way. Thank you.

Link to this

From: Madeline Smith
Ministry of Māori Development


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Tēnā koe Seann

 

Thank you for your request and subsequent message saying it has been
withdrawn.

 

If there is anything you would still like followed up, let me know. You
can contact me directly via [1][email address] .

 

Ngā mihi

 

Madeline

 

 

+-----------------------------------------+
| Tauwaea DDI : +64 4|
| 819 6254 | Waea |
| Pūkoro M : +64 27 |
| 298 5141 |
| Waea Whakaahua F : |
| 0800 875 329 |
| Te Puni Kōkiri, Te |
| Puni Kōkiri House, |
| Madeline Smith 143 Lambton Quay, |
| Senior Advisor Wellington 6011, |
|  National Office     New Zealand |
|   PO Box 3943, |
| [2]sign-tpklogo Wellington 6140, |
| New Zealand |
| [3]sign-tpkwebsite |
| [4]Te Puni Kōkiri |
| Website    |
| [5]sign-kokiri  |
| [6]Kōkiri |
| Magazine    |
| [7]sign-facebook  |
| [8]Facebook |
+-----------------------------------------+

 

 

The views expressed in this email and any accompanying attachments do not
necessarily reflect those of Te Puni Kokiri. Te Puni Kokiri does not
accept any responsibility whatsoever for any loss or damage that may
result from reliance on or the use of the information contained in this
email or any accompanying attachments.

This email together with any accompanying attachments may be confidential
and subject to legal privilege. It may be read, copied and used only by
the intended recipient(s). If you have received this message in error,
please notify the sender immediately by return email, telephone or
facsimile and delete this message. You may not copy, disclose or use the
contents in any way. Thank you.

References

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1. mailto:[email address]
4. http://www.tpk.govt.nz/
6. http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/mo-te-puni-kok...
8. https://www.facebook.com/tepunikokiri/

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From: S. Paurini

Dear Madeline Smith,
Thanks for your email. I withdrew the request earlier because I was told Peeni Henare would address the matter. I've just heard back from his office and he has confirmed that I need to address my concerns with Te Puni Kokiri.

Whanau Ora is not an effective organisation if all it can do is the job that other agencies are empowered to do.

For example, giving a whanau a food grant or a power bill or paying dentist fees is not something Whanau Ora is meant to be doing surely?

Work and Income, PHOs, DHBs all have those and other short-term and related services available to the entire of NZ including Maori.

The Whanau Ora PR campaign over the years suggests that Whanau Ora has an important role in uplifting Maori lives in a major way. In a way that addresses real problems and major challenges facing significant numbers of Maori (and now others) in this country in a way that supports our Maori people to be confident, independent and ready to face the future long-term.

I requested support in the form of a modest whanau direct payment of $1000. I've been told by the Wellington office that our case doesn't fit the criteria even though there is discretion which wasn't used in our case. I've been told by the Auckland office (the contact person spoke on behalf of the Wellington office because the Wellington office isn't returning emails or calls) that our whanau situation is one that should be supported. Apparently that office has written to Wellington but Wellington has chosen not to respond.

What I am interested in having explained is why Whanau Ora can help with a food grant or a dental bill but can't help a whanau that has gone through decades of neglect, sexual abuse and violence leading to a crippling level of estrangement where babies & children from from the same whanau have never even met each other. I'm trying, with my sister, to initiate a get together with the intention of healing the divisions caused by estrangement and design and act on a plan to carry on for the whanau, especially the babies and children in the hope that we can break through the pain of the last 60-80 years.

My hope is that someone from Te Puni Kokiri can explain the anomalies and explain why Whanau Ora agency is unable to respond or engage in any way. I have all phone conversations between myself and Whanau Ora in Wellington and Auckland recorded and I'm happy to share these with Te Puni Kokiri. They could be useful for Whanau Ora staff training.

Nga mihi

Seann Paurini

Yours sincerely,

S. Paurini

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From: S. Paurini

Dear Ministry of Māori Development,

How long do you estimate the waiting time for a response to my request?

Yours faithfully,

S. Paurini

Link to this

From: Mailbox - OIA
Ministry of Māori Development


Attachment winmail.dat
6K Download


Tēnā koe

Thank you for your Official Information Act request. This is an automatic reply to let you know we received it.

In accordance with the Act, we'll let you know our decision within no more than 20 working days. If you'd like to calculate the timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator here: http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

Sometimes we may need to clarify aspects of a request. You can expect to hear from us soon if that is the case here.

Please note, we publish some of our Official Information Act responses on our web site. We will not publish your name or contact details.

If you have any questions while we're processing your request, please let us know via [email address]

The views expressed in this email and any accompanying attachments do not necessarily reflect those of Te Puni Kokiri. Te Puni Kokiri does not accept any responsibility whatsoever for any loss or damage that may result from reliance on or the use of the information contained in this email or any accompanying attachments.

This email together with any accompanying attachments may be confidential and subject to legal privilege. It may be read, copied and used only by the intended recipient(s). If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by return email, telephone or facsimile and delete this message. You may not copy, disclose or use the contents in any way. Thank you.

Link to this

From: Mailbox - OIA
Ministry of Māori Development

Kia ora Seann

 

Thank you for your email below. In recent correspondence you have asked
the following questions:

 

29 October via FYI website:

1. How much public money in total did the Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency
receive in 2019, 2018 and 2017.

2. For each of those years, How much are the two patrons paid yearly.

3. How much were board members paid yearly, including the chair.

4. How much is the management team including the CEO paid yearly.

 

29 October 2019 to the Minister, transferred to Te Puni Kōkiri for a
direct response

1. Total public funding awarded in 2017, 2018, 2019

2. Annual salary to the CEO 2017-2019

3. Annual salary to the the commissioning agency management team members
2017-2019

4. Annual payment/honorarium/salary to the Chair of the board and
individual board members 2017-2019

 

I also acknowledge your email of 5 November 2019 outlining your concerns
about Whānau Ora and requesting an explanation.

 

Your correspondence has been forwarded to Whānau Ora staff and you can
expect a response from Te Puni Kōkiri no later than 27 November 2019.  

 

Ngā mihi

 

Madeline

 

+---------------------------------+
| Tauwaea DDI : +64 |
| 4 819 6254 | Waea |
| Pūkoro M : +64 27 |
| Madeline 298 5141 |
| Smith Waea Whakaahua F :|
| Senior 0800 875 329 | |
| Advisor Paetukutuku W : |
|  Te Puni     [1]www.tpk.govt.nz|
| Kōkiri, Te Puni Kōkiri, Te|
| National Puni Kōkiri House,|
| Office 143 Lambton Quay, |
|   Wellington 6011, |
| New Zealand |
| PO Box 3943, |
| Wellington 6140, |
| New Zealand |
+---------------------------------+

 

 

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Madeline Smith
Ministry of Māori Development


Attachment Letter to Seann Paurini.pdf
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Kia ora Seann

 

Further to the below, attached please find a letter from Te Puni Kōkiri.

 

Ngā mihi

Madeline

 

+---------------------------------+
| Tauwaea DDI : +64 |
| 4 819 6254 | Waea |
| Pūkoro M : +64 27 |
| Madeline 298 5141 |
| Smith Waea Whakaahua F :|
| Senior 0800 875 329 | |
| Advisor Paetukutuku W : |
|  Te Puni     [1]www.tpk.govt.nz|
| Kōkiri, Te Puni Kōkiri, Te|
| National Puni Kōkiri House,|
| Office 143 Lambton Quay, |
|   Wellington 6011, |
| New Zealand |
| PO Box 3943, |
| Wellington 6140, |
| New Zealand |
+---------------------------------+

 

 

From: Mailbox - OIA
Sent: Rātū, 12 Whiringa-ā-rangi, 2019 10:37 a.m.
To: 'S. Paurini' <[FOI #11342 email]>; Mailbox
- TPK Info <[email address]>
Cc: Mailbox - OIA <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Whanau Ora supports some Maori
- not all

 

Kia ora Seann

 

Thank you for your email below. In recent correspondence you have asked
the following questions:

 

29 October via FYI website:

1. How much public money in total did the Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency
receive in 2019, 2018 and 2017.

2. For each of those years, How much are the two patrons paid yearly.

3. How much were board members paid yearly, including the chair.

4. How much is the management team including the CEO paid yearly.

 

29 October 2019 to the Minister, transferred to Te Puni Kōkiri for a
direct response

1. Total public funding awarded in 2017, 2018, 2019

2. Annual salary to the CEO 2017-2019

3. Annual salary to the the commissioning agency management team members
2017-2019

4. Annual payment/honorarium/salary to the Chair of the board and
individual board members 2017-2019

 

I also acknowledge your email of 5 November 2019 outlining your concerns
about Whānau Ora and requesting an explanation.

 

Your correspondence has been forwarded to Whānau Ora staff and you can
expect a response from Te Puni Kōkiri no later than 27 November 2019.  

 

Ngā mihi

 

Madeline

 

+---------------------------------+
| Tauwaea DDI : +64 |
| 4 819 6254 | Waea |
| Pūkoro M : +64 27 |
| Madeline 298 5141 |
| Smith Waea Whakaahua F :|
| Senior 0800 875 329 | |
| Advisor Paetukutuku W : |
|  Te Puni     [2]www.tpk.govt.nz|
| Kōkiri, Te Puni Kōkiri, Te|
| National Puni Kōkiri House,|
| Office 143 Lambton Quay, |
|   Wellington 6011, |
| New Zealand |
| PO Box 3943, |
| Wellington 6140, |
| New Zealand |
+---------------------------------+

 

 

 

show quoted sections

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From: S. Paurini

Dear Madeline Smith,

I've not heard back from the Whanau Ora commissioning agency. If they recieve around $45,000,000 per year of public money and they can't find $1000 for a genuine whanau ora project then I have some concerns about the way the Whanau Ora commissioning agency uses public money. That they are not required to be publicly accountable is very worrying.
That they use public money to do the work of the likes of Work and Income, DHBs, PHOs and dentists indicates to me that Whanau Ora is not using the resources correctly.

Whanau Ora is meant to be concerned with lifting whanau up so we can become healthy and independent. Paying for groceries or a GPs bill or a dentists bill is not a wise use of public money when the government's agenices already do these things.

I expect TPK and Minister Henare to follow this up and instruct the Whanau Ora Commissioning agency to justify their lack of support for our whanau.

Yours sincerely,

S. Paurini

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From: Seann Paurini

Who do I contact if Whanau Ora refuses the remainder of the request? 
Regards
Seann Paurini 

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Mark Montgomery left an annotation ()

02 October 2019 the initial request was withdrawn by the requester

Link to this

Mark Montgomery left an annotation ()

04 November 2019 Request for information restated with some changes in the correspondence (so far as I can ascertain)

Link to this

Mark Montgomery left an annotation ()

28 October 2019 requester appears to have asked 4 questions:
1. How much public money in total did the Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency receive in 2019, 2018 and 2017.
2. For each of those years, How much are the two patrons paid yearly.
3. How much were board members paid yearly, including the chair.
4. How much is the management team including the CEO paid yearly.

Link to this

Mark Montgomery left an annotation ()

20 November 2019 information appears to have largely been released

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Mark Montgomery left an annotation ()

5 December 2019 requester now asking agency for timelines from te Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency.
I have no idea if the Ministry have responsibility for the actions of te Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency & have done all I can with the request

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Ministry of Māori Development only: