He Oranga Poutama, a long-standing physical activity programme by Māori, for Māori, as Māori has been expanded to the Manawatū, broadening its national reach to more Māori communities across Aotearoa.   

The programme is one of the longest Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa initiatives with an investment history spanning 30 years.   

Following the increase in funding for He Oranga Poutama in 2022 from $1.78 million to $3.38 million, a new partnership between Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua and Sport Manawatū will see the programme delivered in the Manawatū.  

The increased investment has also seen He Oranga Poutama rolled out to the South Island through Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu, extended to the Urewera ranges and Tauranga Moana through existing provider Mātaatua Sports Trust.  

He Oranga Poutama has also expanded to the greater Wellington takiwā (region) through Nuku Ora partnering with Te Rūnanganui o Te Ātiawa ki te Ūpoko o te Ika and Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Incorporated and reaching into Te Tairāwhiti (north of Gisborne) through Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti partnering with Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou.   

“He Oranga Poutama has been the longest standing Kaupapa Māori initiative at Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa,” said Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa CEO Raelene Castle. 

“The expansion to 13 providers will broaden the programme’s reach into Māori communities across Aotearoa and forms part of a $7 million Kaupapa Māori Response Plan focused on improving Māori participation and growing leadership through active recreation, sport and play.” 

“We are looking forward to partnering with Sport Manawatū and our hāpori to promote traditional physical activities that build whanaungatanga, hauora-a-tinana and a pathway to whānau wellbeing,” said Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua Chair Oriana Paewai. 

Sport Manawatū Board member and Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua iwi representative Dr Jeremy Hapeta (Ngāti Raukawa) shares ‘the response signals the mana enhancing way that our organisations have partnered and navigated the journey to re-establish He Oranga Poutama across in our rohe’. 

“As the ‘Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua’ appointed representative on Sport Manawatū’s Board, it is pleasing to finally see this partnership come to fruition,” said Dr Hapeta. 

“We have worked with Iwi representatives in our rohe and hāpori on establishing this partnership for the past 12 months, since May 2022. 

“The process has involved hui and kōrerorero as well as engaging (a-kānohi) with the He Oranga Poutama lead at Ihi Aotearoa – Sport NZ. Collectively, the decision was made to re-engage with HOP in our rohe to secure funding so that rangatahi can realise our Pae Ora vision.” 

“A key to rangatahi realising healthy futures and flourishing wellbeing is to empower them to determine and design their own solutions. So, we hope that a return of this HOP funding will provide the resource that will enable rangatahi to design fit-for-purpose programmes. 

“They know what opportunities work best for them to participate and the places and spaces that are meaningful to activate participation,” said Dr Hapeta. 

The 12 confirmed He Oranga Poutama providers are: 

• Sport Northland 
• Aktive – Auckland Sport & Recreation 
• Mātaatua Sports Trust 
• Te Wharekura o Rākaumangamanga 
• Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Porou and Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti 
• Turanga Health 
• Te Papa Tākaro o Te Arawa 
• Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua and Sport Manawatū 
• Sport Taranaki 
• Sport Hawke's Bay 
• Te Runanga o Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa 
• Te Rūnanga o Te Atiawa, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Toa and Nuku Ora 
• Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu. 

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