Kicking off today, Te Taura Ora o Waiariki, Iwi Māori Partnership Board is calling on locals to bring their brightest ideas to life. The new $50,000 ‘Whānau Voice Grant’ pool empowers whānau to drive real change in health and wellbeing.

“Got an idea that can make a difference to hauora? Now’s your chance to share your whakaaro, your way, to help us shape the future of hauora in our rohe,” said Te Taura Ora o Waiariki General Manager Aroha Dorset

“We believe whānau are the experts in their own health journeys. Our new grant supports initiatives that bring these lived experiences to the forefront of the health system, particularly in areas like rangatahi mental health, cancer, immunisation, and oral health. Whether through hui, wānanga, workshops, surveys, interviews, storytelling, or creative approaches like film, digital storytelling, or art, your whānau voice can lead change.”

The Board, representing 32,724 Māori across the rohe, is calling for bold projects that put whānau experiences front and centre. Ten $5,000 grants are up for grabs in this first funding round. Whether it’s a fresh idea or a kaupapa already in motion, whānau, hapū, or legal entities can submit one application each so don’t miss this opportunity to make a real difference.

“This isn’t just about funding it’s about using creative power with a purpose. By sharing your stories and insights, your whānau can shape the future of healthcare, making services stronger, more culturally aware, and responsive to real needs. Projects that elevate kaumātua, rangatahi, tāngata whaikaha, and rural or underserved communities are especially encouraged.”

The Whānau Voice Grant will be grounded in tikanga Māori and reflect Te Tiriti-led aspirations for Hauora. By capturing lived experiences, stories, and ideas directly from whānau, the grant supports whānau flax-roots initiatives that inform future health planning, service design, and decision-making.

“Whānau are the experts in their own lives and know what works,” says Dorset. “This inaugural grant puts their lived experiences at the centre of transforming our health system. It ensures Māori voices are not just heard but respected and that they guide better outcomes for our communities. Who knows where the gaps are, or what truly works locally, better than our own people?”

The Whānau Voice Grant is not intended for service delivery but rather to generate insights that influence our future health systems. By enabling whānau to lead engagement, storytelling, and research processes, the grant recognises whānau as knowledge holders and decision-shapers. It reinforces tino rangatiratanga over hauora and builds a mana-enhancing, relational health system.

Applications will be assessed on cultural integrity, alignment with kaupapa Māori principles, feasibility, innovation, ethical engagement, and budget appropriateness. Successful applicants will receive funding in phases and are required to submit a final report detailing project activities, outcomes, and creative outputs.

The fund opens 5 November and closes 27 November. All applicants will be contacted by 12 December 2025. Applications and guidelines are available at: https://tearawaimpb.co.nz/whanau-voice-grant-guidelines/

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