Mai te Manahautū/From the Chief Executive

Rau rangatira mā, tēnā koutou, Tēnā koutou e pānui nei i te pūrongo ā-tau, o ngā kaupapa kua oti i a Te Puni Kōkiri, i te tau kua huri nei.

I am pleased to provide this Annual Report that details financial and non-financial performance, including selected key achievements and challenges during the 2010/11 year, in what was another positive period for the Ministry.

Undoubtedly the 22 February Christchurch earthquake presented us with the greatest challenge. I was however immensely proud with the subsequent efforts of Ministry personnel who worked tirelessly alongside Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to co-ordinate and support the almost immediate offers of relief support made available by iwi and Māori communities across the country, as well as the support from within the Ngāi Tahu whānui. At its peak, Te Puni Kōkiri temporarily increased its core roster in Christchurch from 8 full-time staff, to 36 co-opted from across the Ministry.

I am pleased to advise that considerable progress has been made with the implementation of the Whānau Ora approach. The first six months focused on:

• Establishing governance arrangements - centrally and regionally;
• Selection of the first group of provider collectives;
• Building relationships between providers and agencies; and
• Initial design of measurement approaches.

The last six months of the financial year has seen the 25 selected provider collectives in the first wave consolidating their relationships, developing models for service delivery, and identifying their key steps at an organisational level, to establish enhanced services for whānau.

Te Reo Mauriora, the independent report released following the review of the Māori Language Strategy, from July 2010 to April 2011, identified a need to focus on whānau and community language development and the importance of strengthened Crown-Māori relationships. Te Puni Kōkiri will contribute further, to the development of the wholeof- government response to this review and implement Cabinet’s decisions arising from the review.

A delegation of Māori business leaders visited China in September 2010 focusing on the practice of whanaungatanga and manaakitanga to create opportunities for doing business with one of the World’s giant economies. The delegation had meetings with Chinese political and business leaders and visited ethnic minority communities in southwest China. One of the successes of this visit was potentially unlocking Māori-Chinese commercial partnerships. A subsequent visit in June 2011 meant we were able to further build and develop relationships and discuss business with a number of Chinese companies and provincial government leaders.

The Māori Economic Taskforce established by the Minister of Māori Affairs has reported back on some critical Māori economic development work, at a summit in Auckland on 5th May 2011. This was a positive opportunity to celebrate the advances made by Māori whānau, businesses, entrepreneurs, iwi and land groupings. The Taskforce and Te Puni Kōkiri have partnered on a range of initiatives: to commission research that includes Māori innovation and Māori investment and capital markets; Māori Professional and Training Groups (a total of 1800 training and job placements), and Māra Kai - Community Gardens to name a few.

Last November, the Māori Purposes Bill 2010 was introduced into the House. This omnibus Bill amends Acts relating to Māori Affairs and progresses a number of matters, including amendments to the Māori Trust Boards Act; Māori Fisheries Act; Estate of Pukepuke Tangiora; and Te Ture Whenua Māori Act. Te Puni Kōkiri was instrumental in steering these matters into the Parliamentary environment.

In the Treaty settlements arena, Ministers recognised in June 2011, mandates for all twelve Hauraki iwi, a significant achievement given the very complex nature, with a wide range of groups and interests, in the Hauraki rohe.

This past year has been challenging but rewarding and I would especially like to acknowledge the leadership and commitment of senior managers and the enthusiasm of all staff for their dedicated efforts: it has been greatly appreciated.

Waiho mā te Atua Kaha Rawa tātou katoa emanaaki, e tiaki.

Leith Comer
Chief Executive

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