E hiki ō kanohi ki te pae o Māhutonga!

Nau mai ki tā tātou e-pānui, ki konei pānuihia ngā tini kaupapa e hāngai ana ki a Whānau Ora, ō tātou hapori me ngā take nui o te wā. Welcome to our first monthly pānui! 

ĀKUHATA 2025

Pūrongo Matua

MĀHUTONGA OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED

On 30 June, we came together to celebrate the official launch of Māhutonga, our new Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, and what an incredible day it was! Ngā mihi nui to everyone who joined us – your presence, support, and aroha helped mark this special moment in style. The launch was a powerful reminder of the mātauranga and tūpuna wisdom that will guide us as we move forward together.

We’re just getting started. Māhutonga will be a catalyst for bold, whānau-led change – commissioning initiatives that uplift, empower, and honour the tino rangatiratanga of our communities. From innovative programmes to strong partnerships, there’s so much to look forward to, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Stay tuned – exciting things are on the horizon.

OUR PROVIDER NETWORK

Pictured above; Our Porirua pilot provider network (top), our Te Ūpoko o Te Ika provider network (bottom) pictured with Māhutonga Relationship Manager Hori Waaka

We're pleased to advise moving in to the next 12months 33 trusted providers and 174 Navigators across region 2 have been confirmed, ensuring a seamless transition and the continuation of care for whānau.  

Our team of Relationship Managers have had the pleasure of getting to know the providers over the last couple of months, with some more planned visits in the coming weeks.  Feedback has been really positive, with most providers expressing a keen interest in more collaboration and networking opportunities which we are excited to explore with you all in the coming months.  

If you are interested in checking out our provider network click the link below.  We look forward to sharing news from the regions and our provider network in upcoming pānui.  

INTRODUCING TE PŪOHO KĀTENE

We're pleased to introduce you to Te Pūoho Kātene who is the inaugural chair of the Māhutonga Investment Board.  We look forward to announcing the entire Investment Board in upcoming pānui. 

Tutaki mai ki a Te Pūoho...

Tēnā koutou te Iwi whānui, āku reo whakamiha ki a koutou.  

I tipu ake ahau kei ngā rekereke o ngā mātua tūpuna i te whare o Toarangatira.

I'm Te Pūoho Kātene. In addition to Ngāti Toa, my iwi ties are to Ngāti Tama and Koata, and through my mother, Ngāti Whātua and Ngapuhi. 

I grew up on Kātene corner, opposite Takapuwāhia marae, Porirua, and after living mostly in Wellington with a few sojourns abroad in Tokyo and California, I now live in Gisborne, with my wife and two tamariki. 

My mahi has focused on driving social impact for Māori. First, through our Iwi interests in the oceans as a Fisheries Scientist, and further into policy, working in the Beehive as a  Private Secretary managing ministerial portfolios for the Minister for Primary Industries.

Following 10 years in public service, I studied abroad before returning to focus on Corporate Finance, Impact Investment and entrepreneurship, with roles in KPMG, Ākina Foundation and NZ Trade & Enterprise.

For the last five years I have led Tapuwae Roa, a pan Māori charitable trust that invests in leadership development, education and entrepreneurship for all Māori throughout the motu. 

I graduated from Victoria University with a bachelor in science (dual majors in Marine Biology and Ecology & Biodiversity) and a BA in Maori studies.

I also hold a Master's in Management from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where I attended on a Fulbright scholarship. 

I love and breathe Te Ao Māori.  I'm an avid haka performer, reo and whakapapa practitioner, and mau rakau enthusiast. I have performed with my wife's whanau Waihīrere, for the last 12 years, including standing in five Matatini competitions. 

I'm a firm believer in the judicious use of pūtea as a tool to drive our prosperity; not to define it.  In my years in Impact Investment, it struck me as a natural fit to those vital characteristics that define us as Māori: the intergenerational horizons, the focus on people, the interrelatedness with the taiao, and the need to make mokopuna decisions. 

I'm excited to step into Māhutonga with a strong focus on maximising impact. And maintaining a clear distinction that as commissioners, we are not the agents of impact; rather, we amplify the impact of others in the community. How we do this across the rohe will depend on a strong data-led approach, and building trusted relationships with our providers. 

Mark your calendars!

ONLINE KAI & KŌRERO - LUNCH SESSION WEDS 27 AUGUST

At the heart of Whānau Ora is a deep commitment to uplifting and supporting our whānau through every challenge and triumph. The mahi you do is powerful, transformative, and often deeply personal. It calls on your time, your aroha, and your strength — and it's easy, at times, to pour so much of yourselves into others that we forget to refill our own cups.

This is a gentle reminder: your wellbeing matters too.

Taking time to look after your own hinengaro, tinana, wairua, and whānau is not a luxury — it’s a necessity.  

We will be running an upcoming online kai & kōrero series with out first session being presented by Māori Psychologist Dr Carrie Clifford as she discusses the importance of looking after yourself to better look after others.  With whakapapa to Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, and Kāi Tahu, Carrie was recently recognised as one of Te Rau Ora’s 100 Māori Health Leaders, is a Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Award recipient, and has contributed to numerous publications in the mental health space. 

This session is open to all Whānau Ora kaimahi, kaiārahi and provider network.  Join us online Wednesday, 27 August 12 PM by clicking the teams link below! 

If you have any requests for kaupapa or kaikōrero for these Kai & Kōrero sessions then let us know! Send us an email to mahutonga@ngatitoa.iwi.nz we'd love to hear from you.  

Want to get in touch with us? Email us at mahutonga@ngatitoa.iwi.nz