Working in partnership in Taumarunui

Published: May 29, 2026

Last month, we came together with community and iwi partners at Morero marae to celebrate the launch of the Taumarunui Whānau Ora Model of Care prototype.

Taumarunui launch day 2026

Transcript

FRANA CHASE: The partnership that we have with Oranga Tamariki is a true developed partnership. 
 
[Karanga and inspiring music] 
 
FRANA: It means that we have personal relationships with people that make decisions about our tamariki in Wellington connected directly to us in Taumarunui. 
 
AMANDA MALU: We need to be challenged to create the space for this kind of work to happen and for these partnerships to grow and make a difference in communities. We don't need to own it. We need to support and partner and walk alongside. And that's what it means to me. 
 
[Celebratory waiata] 
 
HON KAREN CHHOUR: Absolutely amazing to see these three iwi come together with nothing in mind but making sure that tomorrow is a better day for the next generation. 
 
[Celebratory waiata (cont.)] 
 
ADAM RANSFIELD: Our whakaaro here is that one door where everyone comes through. Where services are connected up. It's bringing services and people closer to whānau. It’s providing whānau the opportunity to determine what their plan is rather than having the plan sort of determined for them. 
 
FRANA: Trust in us as we do in ourselves that we are, and have, the solutions. 
 
CHRISTINE BREARS: Key to all of it is the whānau voice. Listen to the whānau voice. Our kaimahi have, more often than not, come from the whānau that we serve. When you know who you're working with, you know behind the face there’s a story, and you know that story, it makes a lot of things easier. 
 
TANYA HEMARA: When you walked into the marae you really felt the intent was right. The right people were here that were speaking. There's no ‘us and them’. It's a ‘we’. We will do this together. 
 
AMANDA: I really look forward to hearing just stories of success from this mahi. No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa. 
 
FRANA: All the answers lie within communities. All the answers lie within whānau. They're not the problem, they're the solution. That connection to their identity, to their culture, having a sense of belonging. We can do that. All we need is the relationship so that people know where we are and being visible to them. 

The launch was a milestone moment for the Enabling Communities programme.

This prototype brings together the Taumarunui Partnering Rōpū, a collaboration between Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Hāua, and the Taumarunui Community Kōkiri Trust. This is the first time these 3 iwi have come together as a collective to work in partnership with the Taumarunui Community Kōkiri Trust and Oranga Tamariki.

Led by those who know their community, this Model of Care aims to strengthen local coordination and help tamariki and whānau access the right support earlier. This includes a whānau navigation function to help coordinate support, develop shared plans, and reduce the number of touchpoints for whānau.

The prototype reflects our commitment to strengthening how decisions and support are shaped alongside communities. The insights learned will inform how we continue to evolve the way we work with partners and communities in the future.

Following the launch, the Taumarunui Partnering Rōpū are working closely with our Taupō and Taumarunui sites and the Enabling Communities team towards the next phase of service delivery.

We’ll continue to share updates, learnings and stories as the prototype progresses.

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