The Whānau Ora movement has marked a historic milestone, commemorating ten years under the stewardship of the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, formerly known as Te Pou Matakana. From its inception, the Commissioning Agency has been a vehicle of change, boldly challenging traditional funding models for a whānau centred and whānau driven commissioning pathway.

This year's Hui was a powerful tribute to the past decade, a movement born from a vision that has become an enduring legacy. What began as a groundbreaking policy has grown into a nationwide force delivering tangible results for thousands of whānau across Te Ika a Māui.

The Hui was opened by a tribute to it’s creator Dame Tariana Turia honouring her legacy as it continues to guide the movement. As one speaker noted, "Tariana moved us not by pressure, but by purpose. Her kaupapa was our invitation to build." Also remembered were Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi, Sir Toby Curtis, Dame June Mariu acknowledged for their unwavering support for Whānau Ora.

Also acknowledged was Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, a fierce advocate and long-serving Board Chair. Her tireless advocacy and strategic oversight helped embed Whānau Ora values and ensure that whānau voices were always at the forefront. Her keynote reminded us that, “No 123 officials in Wellington will ever know better than whānau what is fit for our next generation”.

The 10-year celebration also paid tribute to the bold and visionary leadership of John Tamihere, CEO of the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency. Under his stewardship, the agency has delivered thousands of outcomes, anchored by tikanga Māori, innovative commissioning, and frontline partnership.

This year’s Hui occurred in the shadow of significant political and funding headwinds. The current government’s decision to discontinue the Whānau Ora contract is a direct challenge to the movement’s progress and autonomy.
Yet, the mood of the Hui was not despair… it was determination.

Dame Naida Glavish delivered a rousing reminder, “Own Whānau Ora! Stand secure in the pride of our mokopuna.” And Rawiri Waititi MP for Waiariki posed a challenge “Reconnect our heads and puku to the memories in our blood and waters.”
While financial constraints loom, the movement is not retreating. Instead, it is entering a new era of ownership, re-indigenisation, and transformation. As captured in the final wero of the Hui: “The era of silence wrought by assimilation is over.”

Professor Sir Mason Durie, fondly known as Tā Mason, delivered a compelling reflection on the Whānau Ora journey from 2015 to 2025, a decade shaped by transformative vision, enduring leadership, and collective strength. He traced the whakapapa of Whānau Ora back to its roots in the Taskforce on Whānau-Centred Initiatives and emphasised the bold shift away from fragmented government oversight to a kaupapa Māori-led commissioning model. Tā Mason articulated five enduring foundations of Whānau Ora. a commitment to holistic wellbeing, the validation of mātauranga Māori, placing whānau at the centre, investing in skilled whānau-focused teams, and fostering linked-up leadership. His presentation outlined ten forward pathways, calling for a shift from dependency to self-determination, from reactive policies to future-focused Māori agendas, and from disconnection to kotahitanga. He urged the movement to embrace Māori authority, multiple funding streams, culturally grounded learning centres, and transformative planning for future decades. Through his kōrero, Tā Mason reasserted Whānau Ora not just as a social programme, but as a long-term strategy for Māori development, sovereignty, and wellbeing, powered by unity, purpose, and vision.

At the very centre of Whānau Ora’s impact are our provider partners and their dedicated workforce… the kaiārahi, kaimahi, and whānau champions who walk alongside our people every single day. These are the ones who stand firm in the face of poverty, intergenerational trauma, and systemic barriers — and still see hope.

Through adversity, they champion the strength within our whānau, never defining them by their circumstances, but by their potential. This mahi requires a rare kind of person, someone with a fierce heart, an unwavering belief in others, a refusal to give up, and a deep love for their people. They are not social workers – they are cultural healers, advocates, listeners, warriors, and vision holders.

Their strength is quiet but powerful. Their compassion, relentless. They are the heartbeat of the movement, and Whānau Ora would not exist without them.

One thing is for sure… Whānau Ora has redefined what public policy can be. It has moved the dial from crisis to aspiration, from deficit to potential. And it will continue to do so… regardless of political tides.
Whānau Ora lives on — in every whānau that dreams, leads, and rises.