10. Question No. 10—Māori DevelopmentPAUL EAGLE (Labour—Rongotai) to the Minister for Māori DevelopmentQuestion No. 10—Māori Development10. PAUL EAGLE (Labour—Rongotai) to the Minister for Māori Development: What reports has she received regarding a targeted response to support Māori communities and iwi to implement a resurgence plan in light of the most recent community transmission cluster impacting South Auckland?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister for Māori Development): I receive multiple reports weekly from Te Puni Kōkiri regional teams who are working alongside Māori communities and iwi to implement a resurgence plan across the motu. While there are regional variances we know that Māori make up approximately 16 percent of the South Auckland population. Specifically on the ground in South Auckland we know that the key issues being reported across Tāmaki-makau-rau concern job losses a change in household income to pay bills and get necessities non - COVID-19 health and welfare needs access to kai and personal care items provision of masks education and social and mental health issues. In conjunction with the Government's COVID support package Whānau Ora commissioning agencies iwi in the Tāmaki collective Māori health and social service providers are all contributing to a response across Tāmaki-makau-rau. During this resurgence phase it's becoming increasingly evident that a joined-up effort of Māori and Pacific health providers is necessary to ensure their communities have access to the necessary health and welfare supports to help whānau get through this phase of resurgence of COVID-19.Paul Eagle: What actions have been taken to support a resurgence plan in Māori communities?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Since the resurgence began Government funding through Te Puni Kōkiri has enabled Whānau Ora commissioning agencies to provide 8488 support packages and supported over 22500 whānau members nationwide. Our marae are also contributing to a collective response. They too have mobilised quickly to broker support for whānau to access employment health and welfare support. Take for example Ngātiwai and Ngāti Rehua who are working with 18 marae to broker support for 1400 whānau; Te Mahurehure marae who is assisting more than 3000 whānau of Te Tai Tokerau and Te Hiku living in Tāmaki-makau-rau; Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae who are providing care packages to whānau in their South Auckland community; Waikato-Tainui who are working with Te Puea marae Makaurau Pūkaki Umupuia Nga Hau E Wha and Whatapaka Marae all in the Auckland area to deliver essential packs to those marae communities. There's still more work to do; however it's evident that a collective effort at all levels will ensure communities have access to the necessary health and welfare support so that whānau get the help they need.Paul Eagle: What other feedback has she received in relation to the longer-term aspects of a health and welfare response targeted at Māori communities?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Like many New Zealanders Māori communities are not sure how long this uncertainty will continue. Online engagements with iwi and health professionals have indicated that it is important for iwi to participate in the economic recovery in key priority areas signalled by the Government such as housing skills training and bespoke infrastructure opportunities. On the health front I have received feedback that there remains anxiety about the multiple health vulnerabilities in Māori and Pasifika communities which in a COVID-19 resurgence context requires the collection of robust data sets. This will enable and inform future planning and refinement of a targeted health response and can be consistently implemented across DHBs and inform a consistent approach to surveillance testing for Māori and Pasifika whānau. This feedback has been passed on to Associate Minister of Health Minister Henare who regularly meets with clinical professionals in the Māori health sector.