Report on Effectiveness in Reducing Inequalities

Te Puni Kōkiri contributes to the Government’s reducing inequalities policy and work programme by working extensively with state sector agencies to ensure that government policies, programmes and services are informed by Māori interests, and hence contribute to the wider vision of Māori succeeding as Māori.

Te Puni Kōkiri recognises that an exclusive focus on disparity and disadvantage will not by itself realise the potential of Māori for self-fulfilment and contribution to New Zealand. During 2006/07 Te Puni Kōkiri was in the first year of implementing new non-departmental appropriations aligned to the enablers identified as part of the Māori Potential Approach. Those are:

• Whakamana (Leadership) – Māori are leading, influential and empowering
• Mātauranga (Knowledge/skills) – Māori are skilled, learned and innovative; and
• Rawa (Resources) – Māori are resourced, wealthy and enterprising.

Together, these appropriations are referred to as the Māori Potential Fund.

An evaluation strategy was developed in 2006/ 07 which provided for evaluation of the Māori Potential fund at two levels. Firstly, through a programme of one-off evaluations of selected investments over the next two years. And secondly, through an overall evaluation of the Māori Potential Fund in the medium term. An evaluation of investments in Rangatahi outcomes was initiated in 2006/07 as the first one-off evaluation.