Auckland Council's work to improve outcomes for Māori is gaining momentum, with a new evaluation showing progress across the organisation and stronger partnerships with iwi and Māori communities.
The first annual evaluation of Tāmaki Ora, Auckland Council's Māori Outcomes Strategy and Performance Measurement Framework, and the Tahua Huanga Ora Māori Outcomes Fund was presented to the council's Policy, Planning and Development Committee this month.
The reports found that Māori priorities are becoming more integrated into council planning, decision-making and investment, while identifying areas where more work is needed to measure long-term impact.
Councillor Richard Hills, chair of the Policy, Planning and Development Committee, says the evaluation reflects significant progress made over the past year.
"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."
Councillor Matt Winiata, liaison councillor for Māori Outcomes, says the evaluation 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."
Tumuaki Huanga Māori Nicholas Turoa says council's engagement with iwi is helping strengthen relationships and improve delivery.
"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."