# Portfolio Profile — Māori Development **Portfolio:** Māori Development **Current Minister:** Hon Tama Potaka (National) **File location:** `04_Ministers_and_Portfolios/2026 Portfolio Profile - Māori Development.md` **Last updated:** 7 June 2026 --- ## Current Minister - **Name:** Hon Tama Potaka - **Party:** National - **Electorate:** Hamilton West - **Ministerial title:** Minister for Māori Development - **Additional portfolios:** Minister for Whānau Ora, Associate Minister of Housing (Māori Housing) - **Political alignment:** National Party. Māori Development is a significant portfolio within the coalition government framework. Potaka is of Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa, and Te Āti Awa descent. - **Background:** First elected 2023. Former lawyer and Iwi leader. Has served as CEO of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira. Known for expertise in Māori governance and development. ## Associate Ministers | Minister | Party | Portfolio | Seniors Relevance | | ----------------- | -------- | --------------------------- | -------------------------- | | Hon David Seymour | ACT | Associate Māori Development | (Less direct relevance) | | Hon James Meager | National | Associate Māori Development | Māori economic development | ## Departments and Agencies Involved | Agency | Role | | -------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development)** | Primary policy advisor — Māori development, including kaumātua wellbeing | | **Ministry of Health** | Māori health policy — He Korowai Oranga (Māori Health Strategy) | | **Health NZ** | Service delivery for Māori — aged care, health services | | **Te Aka Whai Ora (Māori Health Authority)** | Māori health commissioning (being disestablished under coalition policy) | | **Ministry of Housing and Urban Development** | Māori housing — papakāinga | | **Ministry of Social Development** | Māori benefit recipients, kaumātua support | | **Ministry of Education** | Māori education — lifelong learning for older Māori | | **Te Mātāwai** | Māori language revitalisation — kaumātua involvement | | **Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency** | Whānau-centred services — intergenerational, includes kaumātua | --- ## Why This Portfolio Matters to Older New Zealanders Māori Development is **critical for addressing the specific needs of older Māori (kaumātua)**: - **Kaumātua demographics** — Māori population is younger on average than non-Māori, but the number of older Māori is growing rapidly. By 2040, the Māori population aged 65+ will more than double - **Health disparities** — Māori have lower life expectancy, higher rates of chronic conditions, and poorer health outcomes in older age - **Māori ageing** — Different cultural concepts of ageing: kaumātua are respected elders, often involved in whānau, hapū, and iwi decision-making - **Māori health providers** — Kaupapa Māori health providers deliver primary care and aged care services tailored to Māori - **Papakāinga** — Māori communal housing models enable kaumātua to age in place on whenua (ancestral land) - **Māori aged residential care** — Limited culturally appropriate aged care for Māori - **Māori disability** — Higher rates of disability among older Māori - **Dementia in Māori** — Māori have higher dementia rates and earlier onset - **Rheumatic and chronic conditions** — Higher rates among older Māori - **Intergenerational caring** — Older Māori often care for mokopuna (grandchildren) - **Whānau Ora** — Whānau-centred approach supports kaumātua within wider family wellbeing - **Māori language and culture** — Kaumātua are key knowledge holders for te reo Māori and tikanga --- ## Portfolio Responsibilities 1. **Māori development policy** — Overall strategy for improving outcomes for Māori 2. **Te Puni Kōkiri oversight** — Ministry leadership and performance 3. **Whānau Ora** — Whānau-centred commissioning and funding 4. **Māori housing** — Papakāinga, Māori home ownership support 5. **Māori economic development** — Iwi and Māori business, asset management 6. **Māori language revitalisation** — Te Mātāwai partnership 7. **Māori culture and heritage** — Protecting and promoting Māori heritage 8. **Māori-Crown relations** — Treaty settlement implementation 9. **Māori health and wellbeing** — Interface with health portfolio on Māori health 10. **Kaumātua policy** — Older Māori-specific policy considerations --- ## Related Legislation | Legislation | Relevance | | ---------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | **Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993** | Māori land — papakāinga housing for kaumātua | | **Māori Development Act 1991** | Establishes Te Puni Kōkiri | | **Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975** | Treaty settlements — iwi resources for kaumātua services | | **Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022** | Māori health — Te Aka Whai Ora | | **Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001** | Aged care quality — culturally appropriate care for Māori | | **Public Health and Disability Act 2000** | Māori health provider funding | | **Māori Language Act 2016** | Te reo Māori revitalisation — kaumātua role | | **Privacy Act 2020** | Data sovereignty — Māori data relevant to kaumātua | | **Whānau Ora Act** (framework) | Whānau Ora commissioning | --- ## Related Agencies | Agency | Role in Seniors Ecosystem | | --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | **Te Puni Kōkiri** | Māori development policy, kaumātua programmes | | **Te Aka Whai Ora** | Māori health commissioning (being disestablished) | | **Health NZ** | Mainstream health services for kaumātua | | **Ministry of Health** | Māori health policy | | **Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency** | Whānau-centred services including kaumātua | | **Ministry of Housing and Urban Development** | Māori housing — papakāinga | | **Te Mātāwai** | Māori language — kaumātua language programmes | | **Iwi and Māori health providers** | Kaupapa Māori aged care, primary care | | **Hauora Māori Commissioning** | Health services for Māori | | **Age Concern NZ (Māori services)** | Kaumātua support services | --- ## Current Policy Activity (as of June 2026) | Activity | Status | Notes | | ---------------------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | | Whānau Ora expansion | Active | Increased funding for whānau-centred services | | Papakāinga housing programme | Ongoing | Māori housing on whenua — kaumātua housing | | Māori health equity programme | Active | Reducing health disparities — older Māori priority | | Kaumātua housing strategy | Being developed | Specific housing options for older Māori | | Te Aka Whai Ora disestablishment | In progress | Transition of Māori health commissioning to Health NZ | | Māori language strategy | Ongoing | Kaumātua language programmes | | Iwi-Māori partnership boards | Developing | Local Māori health governance | | Māori dementia awareness | Active | Culturally appropriate dementia support | | Māori aged care cultural standards | Under development | Quality standards for culturally appropriate aged care | --- ## Political Risk / Opportunity ### Opportunities - **Kaumātua housing** — Investing in papakāinga and kaumātua housing is positive for Māori communities - **Māori health equity** — Reducing disparities for older Māori is an area where progress is measurable - **Culturally appropriate aged care** — Developing Māori models of aged care is innovative and needed - **Whānau Ora** — Popular approach with cross-party support — supports kaumātua within whānau - **Māori dementia support** — Culturally appropriate dementia support is underdeveloped — opportunity to lead - **Treaty settlement benefits for kaumātua** — Settlements providing resources for kaumātua services - **Māori data sovereignty** — Better data on kaumātua health and wellbeing drives better policy ### Risks - **Te Aka Whai Ora disestablishment** — Transition risks to Māori health services; uncertainty for Māori health providers - **Health disparities persist** — Ongoing life expectancy gap for Māori is a political liability - **Māori aged care access** — Limited culturally appropriate care options for kaumātua - **Housing crisis for Māori** — Kaumātua face higher rates of housing deprivation - **Workforce — Māori health professionals** — Shortage of Māori aged care workers, kaumātua care providers - **Data gaps** — Lack of detailed data on older Māori health and wellbeing - **Treaty settlement implementation** — Slow implementation affects kaumātua services --- ## Cross-Links to KB Folders | KB Folder | Link | | ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------- | | `01_Government_Policy` | Māori health strategy, Whānau Ora | | `02_Aged_Residential_Care` | Culturally appropriate aged care for Māori | | `04_Home_Care_and_Community_Support` | Kaumātua home support services | | `05_Funding_and_Subsidies` | Māori benefit/entitlement data | | `07_Dementia_and_Health` | Māori dementia rates, culturally appropriate support | | `06_Legal_and_Financial_Planning` | Māori land issues, EPOA for Māori | | `08_Elder_Abuse_and_Advocacy` | Māori elder abuse services | | `12_Statistics_and_Demographics` | Māori population projections, health data | | `03_Retirement_Villages` | Māori access to retirement villages | --- ## Key Sources to Monitor - **beehive.govt.nz** — Minister Potaka's press releases - **tpk.govt.nz** — Te Puni Kōkiri publications, kaumātua data - **whanauora.nz** — Whānau Ora information - **health.govt.nz** — Māori health strategy - **teakawhaiora.nz** — Māori Health Authority (until disestablishment) - **stats.govt.nz** — Māori population data - **parliament.nz** — Māori Affairs select committee inquiries - **kaumatua.nz** (if available) — Kaumātua network and resources --- _Part of the NZ Seniors Knowledge Base — Political & Campaign Intelligence layer_ _Next review: September 2026 (or after Cabinet reshuffle)_