Whānau Ora
Whānau Ora (Māori for "family health") is a major contemporary indigenous health initiative in New Zealand, driven by Māori cultural values. Its core goal is to empower communities and extended families () to support families within the community context rather than individuals within an institutional context. History and objectives. Whānau Ora evolved out of the coalition between the National and Māori parties after the 2008 general election and became a cornerstone of the coalition agreement between them after the 2011 general election. Te Puni Kōkiri, (the Ministry for Māori Development), states that The Māori Party defines Whānau Ora at  some length. Prior to the health initiative, "Whānau Ora" was the name of the Māori health awards. Criticism. The programme has been criticised for having hard to define and impossible to measure specific outputs; as well as a disproportionate amount of funding being spent in Turia's electorate. MP Winston Peters has been a vocal opponent of the program. The longest-established national Māori health organisation, the Māori Women's Welfare League choose not to participate in Whānau Ora, but some regional leaders are involved. The League operates a parenting skills course called "Whanau Toko i te Ora" which is  unrelated to Whānau Ora. Ministerial oversight. Between April 2010 and September 2014, the-then Māori Party co-leader Tariana Turia served as Minister for Whānau Ora. Between September 2014 and October 2017, the portfolio for Whānau Ora was occupied by Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell. Following the , the Labour MP Peeni Henare assumed the position of Minister for Whānau Ora.