It reflects our Minister’s vision for a modernised approach to Māori development, our legislative obligations under the Māori Development Act 1991, and Cabinet’s 2024 decisions which saw the transfer of some functions from Te Arawhiti to Te Puni Kōkiri.  

 The Minister’s vision positioned Te Puni Kōkiri for strategic influence, elevating our monitoring and mentoring role, and emphasising our role in holding other agencies to account for delivering public services to, for and with Māori.  

 The new strategy brings our policy approach and delivery approach to the forefront. These approaches position Te Puni Kōkiri for strategic influence, ensuring that over time, government effort is aligned for evidence-based approaches that work for and with Māori.   

Our policy approach – Te Tautuhi ō Rongo, provides a framework for ensuring decision making deliberately considers the individual and collective rights of Iwi and Māori. Our goal is that by embedding Te Tautuhi o Rongo as a key public policy framework, it supports decision-makers at all levels to consistently give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.  

Our delivery approach – Whānau-centred, locally led and government enabled, recognises that the public service does not deliver for all Māori. This approach crystallises what we have learned about what works and acknowledges the role and expertise of those operating outside the public service.   

Recognising our position, and the functions recently embedded from Te Arawhiti, the Strategic Intentions 2025 – 2029 identify five strategic priority areas that we will focus on so we can achieve our vision.   

These centre on delivering the Whānau Ora model, enabling Māori economic development and growth, monitoring and mentoring the public service, strengthening Māori language and culture, and supporting Iwi and Māori relations with the Crown.     

Read our Strategic Intentions 2025 – 2029 here.