Winners and losers in whānau ora contracting

The Government’s whānau ora contract process tramples on the legacy of Dame Tariana Turia, says Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu pou ārahi Ivy Harper. 

The South Island agency contract holder looks set to join Pasifika Futures and the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency in closing its doors on 30 June after 10 years of operation. 

New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa, which in June 2024 revealed the surprise tender process for the contracts and the decision to increase the number of agencies from three to four, understands the successful bidders were told last Friday and now have to convince Te Puni Kōkiri they can deliver before contracts are confirmed in late April. 

“It took less than 24 hours for her legacy to be trampled on” 

The South Island contract has gone to a partnership between Ngāi Tahu iwi Māori partnership board and several iwi from the top of the island; Ngāti Toa will operate the agency based in the lower North Island; and social change agency and PHO, The Cause Collective, takes over the national contract for Pacific whānau. 

National Hauora Coalition has declined to comment on whether it is a partner in the successful bid for the region one contract. 

Senior leaders at Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu have been in meetings all day, but in a strongly worded release, Ms Harper says they are “shocked and utterly devastated”. 

“Not just for our staff and partners, the many whānau we work alongside and our communities, but because what the Government is now presenting as whānau ora is, in fact, a watered-down version that rips the heart out of what has been a highly successful approach to inequity.” 

The decision flies in the face of evidence, including an auditor-general audit and a ministerial review, showing the success of the agency’s model of care in engaging with “tens of thousands of whānau”, she says. 

Te Puni Kōkiri announced fundamental intended changes to service delivery on 8 January, the day after Dame Tariana, “the architect of whānau ora and the first minister for whānau ora”, was buried, Ms Harper says. 

“It took less than 24 hours for her legacy to be trampled on.”

The involvement of IMPBs in whānau ora contracts is a significant development as it makes the boards funding holders with commissioning powers, which is way beyond the “strategic commissioning” role mooted by former health minister Shane Reti. 

Their involvement in the bidding process attracted complaints from some who felt they were exceeding their powers. 

News of the Pacific contract has caused some shock as The Cause Collective is little known outside south Auckland. But people spoken to off the record say it intends to work with a network of Pacific churches and has been reaching out to Pacific providers nationwide for several months. 

New Zealand Doctor understands Pasifika Futures staff were told the bad news this morning. 

In July last year, whānau ora minister Tama Potaka paid tribute to the organisation: “Reflecting on the recent challenges over the last couple of years from the ongoing effects of COVID-19 to the Auckland Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, I’m immensely proud of the mahi by Pasifika Futures…I know I’ve only scratched the surface of the work that you are undertaking, but to me, it’s very, very important and very, very urgent.” 

However, sources within Pacific health have been critical of the Pasifika Medical Association-run Pasifika Futures, especially in regard to its purchase in July 2024 of the Moana Pasifika Super Rugby franchise. 

“You don’t turn up to your auntie’s funeral in Manurewa in the latest Beamer,” said one. 

All spoken to expect Pasifika Medical Association to continue fighting to retain its contract. 

New Zealand Doctor is seeking comment from John Tamihere, chief executive of Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust, which operates Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency. 

He has already said the terms of reference for contract bids excluded his organisation from participating and has threatened legal action over how the process has unfolded.

Speaking at today’s post-cabinet meeting press conference, prime minister Christopher Luxon denied the contract announcements were a hit job: “this process is not about individual agencies or, frankly, John Tamihere”.

After 10 years of operation, it is “entirely appropriate” for Te Puni Kōkiri to review whānau ora contracts, Mr Luxon says.

“It’s quite good to question what you are doing and what more you could or should be doing…we want whānau ora and social investment at the heart of our social services policy.”