1. Who We Are

Te Puni Kōkiri - (1992-2007)

Te Puni Kōkiri was established, principally as a policy ministry, on 1 January 1992. Its broad functions, provided for through the Ministry of Māori Development Act 1991, are:

• Promoting increases in levels of achievement attained by Māori with respect to education, training and employment, health and economic resource development; and,
• Monitoring and liaising with each department and agency that provides, or has a responsibility to provide, services to or for Māori, for the purpose of ensuring the adequacy of those services.

Te Puni Kōkiri is the successor agency to the former Manatu Māori (Ministry of Māori Affairs), which was also a policy ministry, and Te Tira Ahu Iwi (the Iwi Transition Agency), which was responsible for the devolution of programmes and services delivered by the previous Department of Māori Affairs.

During its fifteen years of operation, the Ministry’s role has progressively evolved. The early emphasis on providing alternative views to ensure that Māori interests formed a part of Government’s policy considerations, facilitating local level access to mainstream services, and monitoring state sector performance with respect to Māori was gradually extended to incorporate direct funding of, and investment in, Māori communities and organisations and an increased focus on the quality of Crown - Māori relationships.

Since 2004, Te Puni Kōkiri’s strategic direction and associated efforts have been focused on ‘Māori succeeding as Māori’. This desired outcome recognises the importance of Māori achieving a sustainable level of success that is underpinned by the cultural fabric that is part of being Māori. This desired outcome state is supported by the Māori Potential Approach, which is the Ministry’s overarching policy framework and basis for all of its operations.

In 2007, Te Puni Kōkiri is an integrated agency delivering high quality policy advice, strategic investments geared towards realising Māori potential, and managing relationships and information to positively influence Government’s relationships with Māori.

Organisational Information

Organisational Structure

CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Leith Comer

MĀORI TRUST OFFICE
John Paki
Māori Trustee

RELATIONSHIPS & INFORMATION
Alison Thom
Deputy Secretary

SUPPORT SERVICES
Craig Owen
Deputy Secretary

POLICY
Kim Ngarimu
Deputy Secretary

Organisational Information

Strategic Outcome

Māori succeeding as Māori

Role

Te Puni Kōkiri is the principal advisor on Crown-Māori relationships through leading Māori Public Policy and managing Relationships and Information

Purpose

Realising Māori Potential

Approach

Te Puni Kōkiri – moving forward together

Organisational Structure - In Detail

Strategic Outcome

Māori succeeding as Māori

Te Puni Kōkiri’s efforts are directed towards its Strategic Outcome of Māori succeeding as Māori, which recognises the importance of Māori achieving a sustainable level of success without compromising what it means to be Māori. Māori succeeding as Māori includes:

• Māori leveraging off their collective assets for economic transformation;
• Māori utilising their skills, knowledge and talents for increased innovation;
• A flourishing Māori culture and Māori identity;
• Māori families who are strong, healthy and connected; and
• Mutually beneficial partnerships between Māori and local, national and international stakeholders.

As a state agency solely focused on Māori, Te Puni Kōkiri is in a unique position to provide leadership and support to its stakeholders. This is achieved by leading and supporting government through high quality policy advice, effective monitoring, and building and maintaining strong relationships.

Role

Te Puni Kōkiri is the principal advisor on Crown-Māori relationships through leading Māori Public Policy and managing Relationships and Information

Significant potential exists in the growing Māori population and Māori asset base. Te Puni Kōkiri’s purpose is to assist in unlocking and realising this potential so that Māori can succeed as Māori.

To achieve this purpose, Te Puni Kōkiri has developed the Māori Potential Approach; an innovative, forward looking policy approach that aims to better position Māori to build and leverage off the potential of their collective resources, knowledge, skills and leadership capability to improve their overall quality of life.

Purpose

Realising Māori Potential

Te Puni Kōkiri’s approach of moving forward together recognises the need to work with a common purpose, commitment and focus as an organisation internally and in collaboration with external stakeholders including state sector agencies, whānau, hapü, iwi, Māori organisations and communities, local and international businesses and other organisations.

Approach

Te Puni Kōkiri – moving forward together

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