Photo: Te Tiratū Tumu Whakarae, Brandi Hudson (right) with Christine Arihia Brears (second right) and her kaimahi who travelled all the way from Taumarunui Kokiri Trust and Maniapoto Whanau Ora Centre to the Forum.
How do we truly shift the dial on health outcomes for whānau? For Te Tiratū Iwi Māori Partnership Board, the answer lies in listening to our providers, communities, whānau, aligning systems, and proving impact.
On Friday, over 30 kaimahi gathered at the Waikato Innovation Centre for Te Tiratū’s second Provider Forum, where Tumu Whakarae Brandi Hudson shared an update on kaupapa milestones before the rōpū moved into a wānanga on how data—can be a powerful tool for transformation, including a deeper kōrero on Social Return on Investment (SROI).
Two self-confessed, “old hands at this” Tammy Lehar and Susan Turner appreciated how space was created for partners who haven’t yet had the opportunity or experience, to come into a common kōrero together. “It’s something beautiful — if it’s done with the right intentions,” they said.
Tammy also highlighted the importance of building intentional data infrastructure “so we’re collectively working towards a shared vision—rather than duplicating efforts or collecting data in siloes.”
“We have the National Iwi Board Chairs Forum and the Iwi Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs) with a common intention of strengthening data collection in this space. But to create meaningful connections between data and whānau outcomes, we must first build strong, integrated connections between these existing and emerging infrastructures—especially if we’re committed to a Whānau Ora approach.”
“This requires multiple, layered conversations. Personally, I’d challenge the assumption that Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) alone can provide a full picture, as they mainly reflect the primary health care lens. We also need to draw on data from other sectors, such as those funded under MSD and elsewhere, to understand the broader context of whānau wellbeing,” she said.
“There’s a foundational conversation needed—both at a local level and across the larger infrastructure. These discussions are already happening, but it takes time to bring the right people together in the right forum.” Innovation analyst Mari Tanioka from ImpactLab shared case studies on how to turn deep community knowledge into visible, trusted evidence.
“It’s a shift from knowing your mahi matters, to showing it clearly—using stories, numbers, and whānau voices. Often, what’s seen as anecdotal or informal is actually powerful insight. When made visible, it becomes a force for accountability and change,” she said.
Mari encouraged providers to start simple—by collecting clear, useful data such as how many whānau are being reached, or what barriers they face.
She gave the example of a provider who discovered, by tweaking just one survey question, that they were reaching over 63,000 tamariki—far more than they had previously realised. That kind of insight validates the mahi of kaimahi and helps funders better understand the scale and impact of their work.
The forum brought the philosophy of social investment into sharp focus. In a world of scarcity, complexity, and urgency, targeted support can change the course of a life. The difference between what a whānau’s future might look like without help—and what becomes possible with it—is what we call social value.
“Transforming lives through targeted interventions”— that, said Mari and her colleague Sarah Tuck, Engagement Manager at ImpactLab, is the heart of social investment.
Measuring that difference isn’t just about proving value—it’s about understanding what really works. Mari shared how one provider used SROI analysis to demonstrate that their slower, trust-based approach to health visits wasn’t inefficient—it was essential. With that evidence, they secured further funding.
Another organisation shifted strategy entirely, moving from diabetes treatment to prevention, after data showed how early engagement with whānau could help avert long-term harm.
For Te Tiratū, this mahi is about building strong, integrated systems that transform the system itself. Data alone is not the goal—it’s the pathway to transformation.
The shift from knowing to showing is more than a technical process. It takes time, care, and connection—but it’s what builds the momentum to reshape outcomes for our whānau, now and for generations to come.