Hon Tariana Turia
Minister of Community & Voluntary Sector
Minister of Social Development & Employment
Associate Minister of Health
14 June 2009 Media Statement

Whanau Ora Taskforce announced

Tariana Turia is pleased to announce the members of the group charged with finding a better way for the government to deal with Maori whanau.

“Whanau ora is the way forward to achieving a future where whanau determine what is in their best interests.

“How whanau ora will be applied to government policy will be the job of the taskforce and I’m extremely excited by the possibilities,” Mrs Turia said.

Each of the six members on the Whanau Ora Taskforce bring special skills, knowledge and experience with them, she said.

The new taskforce will consist of:

• Professor Mason Durie (chair)
• Rob Cooper
• Suzanne Snively
• Di Grennell
• Nancy Tuaine
• Linda Grennell

The specific job of the taskforce will be to develop a policy framework for a new method of government interaction with Maori service providers to meet the social service needs of whanau.

The taskforce is expected to report to Mrs Turia early next year.

Media Contact: Renee Kiriona – 021 190 6955 or 04 817 8257

WHANAU ORA TASKFORCE

Prof Mason Durie as Chair of the Taskforce. Prof Durie is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) at Massey University (Palmerston North) and Professor of Māori Research and Development. A psychiatrist by training, Prof Durie is a contributor to national debate on a range of social policy issues including community, family, education and health. He has previously been a Commissioner on the Royal Commission on Social Policy (1986-1988) and a Families Commissioner. His particular expertise areas can be broadly described as Mäori wellbeing, social policy and research.

Taskforce members:

Rob Cooper is the Chief Executive of the Ngati Hine Health Trust, a Māori-owned provider of social services in Northland. He is an appointed member of the Auckland DHB and Chairperson of that Board’s Mäori Health committee. He has had a long career in the health sector including designing developmental funding pathways for Mäori health sector providers during his roles with the Northern RHA and the HFA. Rob is of Ngati Hine Ngapuhi descent. His particular expertise is in health issues.

Suzanne Snively is a partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers. She is an economist who specialises in government, financial services and governance advice to the private sector. Before becoming a partner, Suzanne served as a director on several Boards including the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. Her particular expertise areas are machinery of government, funding models and governance.

Di Grennell is Executive Director of the Amokura Family Violence Prevention Consortium. Di is a member of the Domestic Violence Programmes Approvals Panel and the Second Māori Taskforce on Whānau Violence. Her particular expertise area is family violence prevention, including working with youth, programme development, provider training.

Nancy Tuaine of Te Atihaunui a Paparangi (Whanganui) is the manager of the Whanganui River Mäori Trust Board and a member of Whanganui DHB. Her particular expertise is in health and social services.

Linda Grennell was until recently the National President of the Mäori Women’s Welfare League. She currently works in the Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service. Her particular expertise is in the welfare of women and children.

ENDS

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