The head of Te Puni Kōkiri says an advertisement encouraging Māori to sign up to the Māori Electoral Roll was a step too far.
That's despite an independent review finding the advertisement was arguably within the scope of Whānau Ora frameworks.
The review into allegations of inappropriate use of Whānau Ora funding has largely cleared two former commissioning agencies of wrongdoing.
However, it has also recommended Te Puni Kōkiri improve its oversight, contract and conflict of interest management.
Speaking to reporters in central Wellington this morning, secretary for Māori Development Dave Samuels said the ad went too far.
"Encouraging all New Zealanders to enrol is a good thing. However, encouraging a specific group of people to move on to a specific roll is beyond that."
The review concluded it was "at least arguable" the advertising campaign "was within the purposes of the Whānau Ora Outcomes framework".
It looked into claims an advertisement encouraging Māori to sign up for the Māori roll, paid for by Te Pou Matakana, amounted to "electioneering".
Te Pou Matakana, also known as the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, was led by John Tamihere, who is also president of Te Pāti Māori.
The advertisement was dubbed the longest ever produced in Aotearoa and featured artist and activist Tame Iti reading a 'Māori roll call' of New Zealanders who have recently joined the Māori electoral roll for 30 minutes.
Te Pou Matakana (TPM) was one of the three original commissioning agencies set up to administer Whānau Ora services and funding when it was created in 2010 by the late Dame Tariana Turia, in an effort to improve social and health services for Māori.
Photo: Stuff / Royal Commission of Inquiry
The review by Doug Craig, director of the RDC Group consultancy, found that the advertisement was paid for by interest TPM had received from investing Whānau Ora funding.
While it was not possible to form a "definite view", the reviewer said it did not believe TPM was entitled to invest Whānau Ora funds, keep the money it accrued and then use it for purposes outside the scope the Whānau Ora framework - which includes healthcare, education and addiction support.
However, the reviewer said that the advertisement was arguably within the scope of the framework and, while it did have a prospect of benefiting Te Pāti Māori, the benefit would be indirect.
Funds for Moana Pasifika also under scrutiny
The review also looked into another agency, Pasifika Futures Limited (PFL), that was alleged to have put $770,000 towards the Moana Pasifika rugby team.
The review found no evidence PFL spent Whānau Ora money on matters not associated with Whānau Ora.
However, the review did not completely exonerate PFL.
It found there were a number of "complex questions" left to answer, including the source and use of the funds the review looked into, and the retention of Whānau Ora money as surpluses.
Te Puni Kōkiri responds
Samuels said the allegations made earlier this year had been serious and warranted a serious review.
"Importantly, there is no evidence that any misuse of Whanau Ora funds, as alleged, has been found."
Asked how much interest Te Pou Matakana Limited had spent, Samuels said he didn't know.
"I don't know the total and this is wider than Whānau Ora because in terms of surpluses and interests earned, that is a system issue and there are a number of contracts that Te Pou Matakana had beyond Whānau Ora.
"As the Auditor General has identified in his recent report regarding Oranga Tamariki, surpluses for social social agencies delivering social services is not something that should be discouraged because they should be able to make a profit and also use that profit to put back in their businesses."
"That is a system issue that requires a system response and I've referred that to the Public Service Commission."
Samuels said any comment he made on the impact the funding may have had on the 2023 election, in particular the Tāmaki Makaurau seat that Te Pāti Māori narrowly won, would be "pure speculation".
Samuels aknowledged the ad encouraging Māori to enrol on the Māori roll had been a step too far.
"Encouraging all New Zealanders to enrol is a good thing. However, encouraging a specific group of people to move on to a specific role is beyond that."
He said his agency has already made changes recommended in the review.
"The model standards that we have across the public service, we have implemented those and reinforced those with the new commissioning agencies under the new contracts.
"What it means is that there are more controls, there is more reporting you're able to follow where the funding is spent and you are able to identify the outcomes through evidence and data."
Samuels said the report found no evidence of Whānau Ora money went to the Moana Pasifika rugby team.
The review was launched in June, after Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka sought urgent advice on "electioneering concerns".
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