A transformative shift in sport and recreation funding is making waves in Waitaha and Te Tai Poutini, with $800,000 across four years from the Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa (TMAA) fund directed toward historically underserved communities and Māori initiatives with a focus on improving health outcomes.

Administered by Sport Canterbury on behalf of Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa, the TMAA fund is designed to help tamariki and rangatahi, especially those less active, to participate in quality play, active recreation or sport. But until recently, Māori providers in Waitaha and Te Tai Poutini had seen little of this support.

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That changed in 2021, when Healthy Families Ōtautahi (HFŌ) identified a critical opportunity to address the imbalance. Working closely with Sport Canterbury, HFŌ’s lead provider, the organisation led a cultural competency journey grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, aiming to embed equity, Māori principles and values into the heart of funding decisions.

The result was a dedicated Māori pathway within TMAA, now accounting for about 13 percent of the regional fund. This pathway ensures initiatives are delivered “by Māori, for Māori, as Māori” and are recognised and resourced.

“Consequently, there has been a noticeable increase in funding allocated to Māori communities, leading to a rise in opportunities for whānau Māori to engage in physical activities that are culturally relevant and authentically Māori,” says Lawrence Tau, HFŌ Systems Innovator.

The impact has been immediate and far-reaching. More Māori-led kaupapa are being funded, enabling whānau to engage in physical activity through a Māori lens - whether that’s kapa haka, waka ama or traditional games like Kī-o-Rahi.

This initiative improves outcomes for Māori communities, focusing on reducing chronic lifestyle diseases. These efforts also go beyond physical health, fostering deeper connections to cultural identity, strengthening whānau relationships and supporting holistic wellbeing.

One example is Te Hono o Ngā Waka, a kaupapa Māori organisation dedicated to supporting whānau and addressing needs in Te Tai o Poutini. With the help of Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa funding, they are strengthening social connections and a sense of belonging through waka ama.

For many, opportunities like this represent a reconnection with identity and culture that had previously been difficult to access.

“The focus on all things Māori through TMAA has provided additional opportunities and entry points for whānau to connect with Te Ao Māori (the Māori world). This includes access to Te Reo (Māori language), me ōna tikanga (customs), Te Taiao (the environment), and mātauranga (knowledge) that may have previously been challenging to access,” says Tau.

“These holistic benefits further contribute to the overall wellbeing and cultural enrichment of the Māori community.”

With the establishment of a distinctive pathway and the cultural competency journey led by HFŌ, greater funding has been allocated to Māori in Canterbury.

Article added: Thursday, May 22, 2025