Auckland Council has released the third edition of its Te Pūrongo a Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau Ngā Huanga Māori 2020-2021 / Auckland Council Group Māori Outcomes Report 2020-2021, approved by the Parks, Arts, Community and Events Committee for the first time.
Mayor Phil Goff says the report shows that Auckland Council is moving in the right direction in supporting Auckland’s Māori communities.
“Over the past financial year, Auckland Council has spent $17.6 million through its Māori Outcomes Fund—the highest level of expenditure to date.
“Council also supported 36 Māori-led COVID-19 response and recovery initiatives with $3 million in funding through our Manaaki Fund, and our Marae Infrastructure Programme has fully completed work on two marae with work underway on four others.
“This work is making a real difference in people’s lives and helping to support Tāmaki Makaurau’s Māori communities during a challenging year.”
Councillor Alf Filipaina, Chair of the Auckland Council Parks, Arts, Community and Events Committee, says this financial year saw significant progress made with supporting Māori identity and wellbeing, and he is pleased that services were targeted to where they are most needed.
“The Māori Outcomes Fund saw grants of $2.9 million go towards the Manaaki fund. Ngā Mātārae opened its Manaaki Fund last year to support its Māori partners as they respond to, aid recovery from, and build resilience from the impacts of COVID-19.
“The Manaaki fund supports Māori-led active responders to COVID-19, who are helping Māori whānau and tamariki (children) in Tāmaki Makaurau. It also supports Māori-led COVID-19 recovery and resilience initiatives, with a particular focus on initiatives that advance Māori whānau and tamariki wellbeing, Māori employment and business, and sustainable solutions for Māori communities, especially if focused on essential needs.”
The Māori Outcomes Fund was introduced as part of Council’s 10-year Budget 2018-2028, allocating a total of $150 million over 10 years. Additional activities occur outside this funding that further contribute to Māori outcomes.
Tumuaki Huanga Māori / Director Ngā Mātārae Māori Outcomes, Herewini Te Koha, says the Māori Outcomes Fund keeps the self-determined aspirations of Māori at its heart.
“The Fund supports strong Māori communities in Tāmaki Makaurau by spending on activities that contribute to a range of key wellbeing priorities. These priorities include strong Māori business and employment, marae development, wellbeing of whānau and tamariki, reflecting and promoting Māori culture and identity, and more, as well as ensuring that Māori are active partners and participants in the council’s decision-making processes.
“Auckland Council Group has developed a framework to guide and measure the delivery of positive outcomes for Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau. Through this framework development process, Māori defined the outcomes that matter most for their whānau, marae, iwi and communities, and Auckland Council Group set objectives to contribute to these aspirations through its activities and budgets, including the Māori Outcomes Fund.”
The Marae Infrastructure Programme is one initiative provided by the fund, which supports the physical infrastructure development of marae.
“The aim of the programme is to deliver safe, healthy, and warm marae,” says Councillor Angela Dalton, Māori Outcomes portfolio lead and Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor.
“In the 2020-2021 financial year, the council worked with 10 marae, all at various stages of the programme.
“The programme saw two marae fully completed, with physical work carried out on four others. Physical work has included maintenance and repair of buildings, installation of waste-water systems, and removal of asbestos.”
The Māori Outcomes Fund also supported Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art, the largest exhibition in the 132-year history of Toi o Tāmaki/ Auckland Art Gallery.
“The exhibition was the world’s largest display of contemporary Māori artwork spanning the last 70 years,” says Cr Dalton.
“The aim of the project was to strengthen Māori cultural identity and make the most of the opportunities it provides, such as associated employment opportunities and investment in the Māori arts sector.”
Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art exhibition ran from 5 Dec 2020 to 9 May 2021.
Read the full Te Pūrongo a Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau Ngā Huanga Māori 2020-2021 / Auckland Council Group Māori Outcomes Report 2020-2021 here [PDF].
