A prevention plan to help reduce the suicide rate among Maori and Pasifika people is being developed by the Ministry of Health.
The ministry reports that one in five people who die by suicide are Maori.
It's set aside a $10 million budget, which will be split into two pools, to help Polynesian communities.
The ministry's asking potential groups or individuals wanting to apply for the funding to explain in a proposal how they would help tangata whenua and Pasifika whanau.
Associate Minister Tariana Turia said the programme will adopt the Whanau Ora philosophy, which will help build tangata whenua and Pasifika people's ability to curb suicide.
The Whanau Ora scheme helps troubled whanau to deal with problems as a family, rather than dealing with an individual who's struggling.
People wanting to submit proposals have until 5pm on 16 August.
