Ka anga whakamua mātou i tā mātou ahunga rautaki We made progress on our strategic direction

Te Pae Tata outlined a number of high-level actions we need to take in MSD to improve outcomes for people and whānau in the community. We made significant progress against these this year, as we:

• finalised relationship agreements with Maniapoto, Whākatōhea and Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
• participated in the development of a social and economic revitalisation strategy framework with Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust and other Crown agencies
• continued to engage with and support Parihaka Papakāinga Trust through the Te Huanga ō Rongo multilateral agreement
• engaged with the National Iwi Chairs Forum (as the Crown lead, MSD is responsible for progressing work under the Pou Tangata workstream)
• supported the establishment of a Regional Intersectoral Forum comprising iwi, Crown agencies and territorial authorities to deliver initiatives that fit with iwi aspirations
• launched a five-year E Tū Whānau Framework for Change
• redesigned service delivery models to enable staff to co-locate with community service providers such as marae
• established Māori Connect (a Māori case management model) where iwi support whānau into employment or training
• established Ngā Mātanga Māori to provide advice on kaupapa Māori values that could underpin the welfare system
• started a review of the Social Services Accreditation Standards so we can weave cultural competency elements throughout them
• supported Te Piki Oranga to help Māori clients to pass their restricted/full licence
• contributed funding to support Project Moturoa, which delivers a mātauranga Māori conservation programme
• suppported Mana Wāhine, which helps women with living skills and personal development
• continued to support Te Ara Matatū, a programme that helps Māori to prepare for employment.

Strengthening our partnerships with iwi

A key priority of Te Pae Tata is strengthening our partnerships with iwi as a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner. We invested more in building Māori capability internally, and in connecting and collaborating to build effective partnerships, community approaches, and services to achieve better outcomes.

Before and throughout the emergence of COVID-19, we contracted many iwi and Māori organisations to provide services in communities. During the pandemic public appreciation of the Crown working in partnership with iwi and Māori communities grew, and such partnerships are increasingly being seen as important tools for achieving a wide range of government objectives.

MSD also leads two multilateral agreements:

• Te Hiku o Te Ika Iwi/Crown Social Development and Wellbeing Accord
  • Since we signed a Letter of Intent on behalf of Crown agencies with Te Hiku Iwi Development Trust in February 2020, activities have spanned:
    • building the internal capability of Te Hiku iwi
    • establishing education and employment initiatives
    • exploring ideas for creating and retaining business and employment
    • developing a social foundations action plan
    • exploring ways to address housing issues in Te Hiku.
  • Service Management Plan with Tūhoe
    • We continued to work with Tūhoe and with participating agencies on the Service Management Plan to update our next set of five-year commitments. This work strengthens the long-term relationship between the Crown and Tūhoe to bring better social and economic outcomes for Tūhoe.
    • MSD and other participating Crown agencies worked closely with Te Uru Taumatua to confirm a recommitment to the Service Management Plan for the next five years. This will also address the recommendations from the recent review of the Service Management Plan.