The agency assigned the Whanau Ora contract for Te Ika a Maui - the North Island - is promising to take a community approach to get funding where it's needed.
Te Pou Matakana was given $43 million to fund kaupapa Maori welfare services, and opened for business on Tuesday.
It falls under the National Urban Maori Authority, which already provides Whanau Ora services.
Te Pou Matakana chair Merepeka Raukawa-Tait said its focus would be developing whanau strength, not helping them when they ran into trouble as had been done in the past.
She said the range of experience in board members meant funding decisions would be fair and well thought through.
