Nine iwi in Te Waipounamu have collaborated and put in a bid to be the Whanau Ora commissioning agency for the South Island.
Te Puni Kokiri is deciding which groups should become the three non-government organisations, to hand out welfare contracts.
Ngai Tahu chair Sir Mark Solomon says it worked with tribes in the Tau Ihu region to submit an application to become a commissioning agency for Whanau Ora, and would call itself Te Putahitanga o Te Waipounamu.
He says the philosophy aligns to its tribal economic strategy and its housing and trade training initiatives, which are about empowering people to create their own pathways and set achievable goals.
Sir Mark says securing the role will enable the nature and range of services provided to be broadened.
The successful applicants will be announced next month.
