Media release from Whänau Ora Governance Group Chair, Rob Cooper

The Whänau Ora Governance Group today announced 25 providers/provider collectives had been selected to develop and deliver whänau-centred services to families around the country.

Governance Group Chairman Rob Cooper said the Expressions of Interest received from providers/provider collectives had been innovative and overwhelming. Provider proposals transform existing services to become integrated and whänau-driven.

There were 130 proposals submitted involving 350 providers from around the country.

"Nearly 40% of all the Expressions of Interest were submitted on behalf of providers/provider collectives - several with a national focus; many with support from iwi and hapü within their region; and a number of proposals from iwi-led collectives."

"Expressions of Interest were also received from Pacific organisations, refugee/migrant focused providers, specialised social service providers and disability providers, reflecting the widening enthusiasm across diverse communities for whänaucentred practice," he said.

Mr Cooper said the selected 25 providers/provider collectives representing 158 provider organisations had emerged from a process which involved funder checks, eligibility assessments and assessment from relevant Regional Leadership Groups. "I want to thank the Regional Leadership Groups for the extremely valuable contribution they made to the selection of these organisations; with the majority of their recommendations agreed to by the Governance Group".

Final decisions by the Governance Group reflect: readiness to provide services; scale of operation; scope of service provision with a preference for providers or collectives able to offer a comprehensive range of services; and quality of proposal including history of service delivery, outcomes to be achieved, and the quality of relationships within a collective.

When considering submissions, Mr Cooper said the Whänau Ora Governance Group took account of larger scale collectives of providers, "with an expectation that these would provide whänau-centred service delivery coverage for more significant numbers of people."

The following providers will move through to the next stage of developing detailed Programmes of Action (POA) to prepare themselves to develop and deliver whänau-centred services:
Te Taito kerau (Northland)
• Te Tai Tokerau Whänau Ora Collective
• Te Hau Äwhiowhio O Ötangarei
• Te Pü O Te Wheke
Tämaki Makaurau (Auckland)
• Ngäti Whätua O Öräkei Mäori Trust Board
• Kotahitanga Roopü
• National Urban Mäori Authority (Numa)
• Pacific Island Safety & Prevention Project
• Alliance Health & Pho
Waikato (Hamilton )
• Waikato -Tainui Te Ope Koiora Koiora Collective
Te Moana Ä Toi (Bay Of Plenty)
• Te Ao Hou Whänau Ora Network
• Ngä Mätaapuna Oranga Pho
Te Arawa (Roto rua)
• Te Arawa ColleCtive & Tipu Ora Charitable Trust
Te Tairäwhiti (East Coast)
• Te Whare Maire O Tapuwae
• Tairäwhiti Collective
Takitimu (Hawkes Bay)
• Te Taiwhenua O Heretaunga
• Hawke's Bay Hauora Collective
Te Tai Hauäuru (Whanganui)
• Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority Pho
• Tui Ora Ltd And Tu Tama Wahine
Te Whanganui-Ä-Tara (Wellington )
• Te Rünanga O Toa Rangatira Inc
• Hä O Te Ora O Wharekauri Trust
• Pacific Health Service & Taeaomanino Trust
• Täkiri Mai Te Ata & Te Rünanganui O Taranaki Whänui
Te WaipouNamu (South Is.)
• Pacific Trust Canterbury
• He Waka Kotuia O Araiteuru
• He Oranga Pounamu

Each provider's POA will address infrastructure needs; workforce training and development needs; a process for integrating contracts; the development of an outcomes framework and an agreed action research, evaluation and monitoring plan.

Mr Cooper said a number of the providers identified within the collectives were very small in scale and scope; and the networks of service delivery across the collectives will take time to develop.

"The Programmes of Action will take this variation into account, overall however the 25 providers/collectives have emerged where there is clear need, high levels of aspiration and distinctive populations of interest."

He added that some locations still need to build provider relationships including: Kaipara; Hauraki; South Waikato; Taupö/Türangi; Palmerston North; Wairarapa; Levin/Kapiti Coast; and Invercargill.

"Development work with potential providers in these areas to build collectives will begin in 2011."

Media Note: Attached is a full list of provider collective/ providers detailing member organisations that make up a collective in each region.

For more information go to: www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-focus/ whanau-ora/.