Nga Kete Oranga ā-Ahure
CULTURAL WELLBEING PACKAGES OF CARE
Person‑led
Whānau‑centric
Kaupapa Māori focused
Applications open: 5 February 2026
Nga Kete Oranga ā-Ahure
Nga Kete Oranga ā-Ahurea, celebrates the richness of taonga tuku iho, through living arts, recreation and creative expressions that nurture identity, healing, and belonging. This can be achieved through Te Ao Māori pathways such as mau rākau, whaikōrero, rāranga, waiata, mahi toi, wānanga and wairua connections.
Tangata Māori with living realities of hauora hinengaro (mental health) are supported to enhance wellbeing and strengthen whakapapa connections in a meaningful, life-affirming way.
Goals and Objectives
The overall purpose of Ngā Kete Oranga ā Ahurea is to enable tangata to access meaningful, culturally grounded support that strengthens whakapapa, identity and oranga hinengaro.
Key goals are to:
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Enable tangata to design and lead their own cultural pathways of care alongside whānau and supporters.
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Strengthen access to Māori cultural resources, spaces and practitioners that enhance wellbeing, healing and belonging.
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Encourage secondary services to work in genuine partnership with kaupapa Māori providers, tohunga, kaimahi Māori and whānau ora collectives.
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Improve equity for tangata who may be disproportionately impacted by limited access to resources.
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Generate evidence and stories of impact that may inform future kaupapa Māori funding and system change.
Ngā Kete e Tōru Framework
Packages should reflect a balanced, holistic approach grounded in tikanga Māori.
Te Kete Aronui – The Seen
What is visible and observable in a person’s journey (what we can notice in the physical world, behaviours, kōrero shared, and visible expressions of culture/identity).
Te Kete Tūāuri – The Unseen
What sits beneath the surface (inner experiences, thoughts and feelings, and cultural/spiritual dimensions that may be sacred or not immediately visible).
Te Kete Tūātea – The Unknown
What is still unfolding (unexplored potential, unexpressed needs, and future aspirations that may emerge over time).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Ngā Kete Oranga ā-Ahurea?
Ngā Kete Oranga ā-Ahurea is a national kaupapa developed by Te Kete Pounamu (TKP) and Te Rau Ora (TRO) in partnership with Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora. It provides person-led, whānau-centric, kaupapa Māori cultural packages of care for tangata Māori with living realities of hauora hinengaro (mental health). The kaupapa celebrates taonga tuku iho – living arts, creativity, cultural knowledge, and practices that support identity, healing, and belonging.
2. Who can apply?
Tangata / Whānau
The fund supports tangata Māori who:
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Have lived or living experience of hauora hinengaro and/or addiction
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Are currently engaged with, referred to, or eligible for primary or secondary mental health and addiction services
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Consent to participate in the design, delivery, and evaluation of their package
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May include whānau or support people as part of their journey
Tangata cannot apply directly.
Providers (Applicants)
Applications must be submitted by secondary mental health and addiction services, including:
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Te Whatu Ora services
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Community and NGO mental health services
Providers must:
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Work in partnership with tikanga Māori providers
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Have appropriate financial and reporting systems
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Agree to contractual, evaluation, and reporting requirements
3. How does the application process work?
Applications are submitted via the Tahua online portal.
4. When are applications open?
Round 1 – 2026
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3–4 Feb: Information sessions
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5 Feb: Applications open
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March: Assessment and decisions
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Late March / April: Contracting and payments
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April–September: Delivery and reporting
Round 2 – 2026
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August: Applications open
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Sept–Oct: Assessment and contracting
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Oct 2026 – Mar 2027: Delivery and reporting
Future rounds are expected to follow a similar February/August cycle.
5. How much funding is available?
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Up to $5,000 (including GST) per package
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Up to 160 packages per year, across two funding rounds
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Up to 10 applications per service per round
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Packages must be delivered within 3–6 months
Repeat applications for the same tangata will only be considered after completion of previous packages and submission of an approved Impact Report.
6. What can be funded?
Funding supports non-clinical, culturally grounded packages of care aligned to Ngā Kete e Toru and Māori cultural dimensions of wellbeing.
This may include:
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Cultural practices such as mirimiri, rongoā, waiata, kapa haka, raranga, whakairo
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Wānanga, noho marae, whānau hui
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Cultural reconnection, healing and identity-based activities
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Aspirational or future-focused cultural learning
Eligible costs may include:
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Practitioner and kaimahi fees
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Venue hire, kai and koha
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Materials and cultural resources
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Local travel and accommodation (where appropriate)