The first evaluation reports for the Tāmaki Ora framework and Māori Outcomes Fund investment are helping Auckland Council Group connect existing work, focus on Māori priorities and make delivery a part of everyday business.
The evaluation presented to the Policy, Planning and Development Committee reported positively on Tāmaki Ora Auckland Council's Māori Outcomes Strategy and Performance Measurement Framework 2025–2027 (Tāmaki Ora), and the Tahua Huanga Ora Māori Outcomes Fund (Māori Outcomes Fund).
Chair of the council’s Policy, Planning and Development Committee, Councillor Richard Hills said these reports presented a good balance of information and opportunity.
“A lot of great work has been done to support and further integrate the Tāmaki Ora framework throughout the council’s activities and with our iwi partners and mātāwaka.
“This reporting shows many of the positive changes of the past year. It is important we continue to lead in this space as a council and as a city, with strong support from the full committee,” says Cr Hills.
The reports show stronger organisational and investment arrangements and evidence of tangible benefits achieved during 2025/2026. They promote wider implementation and measures to show how long-term impact and value is being achieved.
Liaison councillor for Māori Outcomes, Councillor Matt Winiata welcomed the first annual evaluation and said it provides a realistic picture of progress one year on.
“Tāmaki Ora is helping connect Māori priorities with council’s everyday work and it’s pleasing to see that all departments now have Māori outcomes plans as part of their business delivery plans.
“There is tangible progress in Māori procurement, support for marae and work on iwi priorities. However there is more work to do and we need better information about the difference this work makes – and this will come,” says Cr Winiata.
Tumuaki Huanga Māori, Nicholas Turoa, said he looked forward to unlocking more opportunity for Māori by looking across the council group’s operations.
“Of the 35 meetings we’ve had with iwi during the report period, we’ve seen a real appreciation for the engagement we’re having. More and more, iwi can see their priorities being achieved or delivered or what the pathway to delivery might look like.
“We are quite new to evaluating Māori Outcomes and our evaluation, like our work, will evolve from this baseline and mature over time,” says Mr Turoa.
Of the 20 measures in the Tāmaki Ora report, two targets were exceeded, 13 were recorded as being on track, and five in progress.
The Māori Outcomes Fund underspent its $17.4 million budget by $4.2 million, but referenced clearer priorities, stronger oversight and improved funding arrangements. It was noted that seven of eight Houkura-commissioned ‘He Waka Kōtuia Treaty audit 2024’ recommendations are ready for closure, with just one requiring further work.
Semi-structured interviews with mana whenua and mātāwaka are already underway and will help to capture the voice of the community and ensure continuous improvement.
The next evaluation will build on the initial benchmark to test what has changed, whether iwi priorities have influenced departmental plans, if investment choices are demonstrably different, and track improvements in coordination and accountability.
Future evaluation of these programmes will be reported annually to the council, drawing on these first reports as a benchmark to compare and analyse progress.
More information
The evaluation reports received by the Policy, Planning and Development Committee are available here: