23 Jun 2014

NUMA calls the shots in North Island

7:30 am on 23 June 2014

The North Island's Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency can contract who it wants, including providers outside of the social policy network.

Te Manu Korihi obtained the details under the Official Information Act.

The contract secured by the National Urban Maori Authority's arm Te Pou Matakana, is worth just over $43 million.

Te Puni Kokiri says the commissioning agency will keep a portion of the funding.

It will also be responsible for deciding how much and who it can give funding to, to deliver whanau ora programmes.

The official information says Te Pou Matakana isn't limited to contracting providers within the existing Whanau Ora network.

Meanwhile, Te Puni Kokiri, refused to say how the body would encourage clients to trust its service, after sex abuse comments made by its executives last year.