Māori mental health and wellbeing is a major priority in New Zealand. Māori experience higher rates of mental health conditions, higher suicide rates, and poorer access to culturally appropriate services. Kaupapa Māori approaches — grounded in Māori worldviews, te reo, and tikanga — are evidence-based for Māori. This guide covers the key funding sources.
Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development) funds Māori wellbeing:
- Whānau development: Whānau wellbeing including mental health
- Māori community development: Marae-based and community wellbeing
- Te Ao Māori: Cultural connection as protective factor for mental health
- Rangatahi: Māori youth wellbeing and mental health
Health system Māori mental health:
- Māori mental health services: DHB-funded kaupapa Māori mental health
- Te Rau Ora: Māori mental health workforce development
- Cultural assessment: Te Whare Tapa Whā model of health in clinical settings
- Kaumātua: Elder support for Māori mental health
Whānau Ora is a kaupapa Māori approach to health:
- Commissioning agencies: Ngā Manukura o Ake Ake, Te Pūtahitanga
- Whānau plans: Integrated whānau support including mental health
- Kaupapa Māori providers: Culturally grounded service delivery
- Self-determination: Whānau-led approaches to wellbeing
Whānau Ora is a primary vehicle for kaupapa Māori mental health.
Gaming trusts fund Māori mental health programmes:
- Four Winds Foundation: Community health including Māori wellbeing
- Grassroots Trust: Community health and wellbeing
- Pub Charity: Community health
- Lion Foundation: Community health
Gaming trust Māori mental health applications:
- Marae-based wellbeing programmes
- Kaumātua support and mental health
- Youth mental health — rangatahi
- Cultural connection programmes
Cultural connection as mental health:
- Te reo Māori: Language as identity and wellbeing
- Whakapapa: Genealogy and identity as protective factor
- Tikanga: Cultural practices and mental wellbeing
- Marae: Cultural spaces as community mental health infrastructure
Māori suicide prevention is a national priority:
- Te Puni Kōkiri: Māori community suicide prevention
- Every Life Matters: National suicide prevention investment — Māori focus
- Māori providers: Kaupapa Māori suicide prevention
- Youth: Rangatahi suicide prevention
Māori in criminal justice:
- Corrections: Tikanga-based rehabilitation
- Te Whatu Ora: Prison health for Māori
- Reintegration: Cultural reconnection for Māori on release
Māori mental health peer support:
- Peer support workers: Māori peer workers in mental health services
- Lived experience leadership: Tāngata Whaiora — people with lived experience
- Community peer support: Marae and community-based peer support
Youth mental health:
- Oranga Tamariki: Māori child and youth wellbeing
- Youth mental health services: Youth-specific kaupapa Māori services
- Schools: Mental health in kura and mainstream schools with Māori students
- Kura Kaupapa Māori: Mental health in Māori-medium education
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Kaupapa Māori: Programme grounded in Māori worldview and values
- Māori leadership: Māori people in governance and leadership
- Cultural safety: Culturally safe practice for Māori
- Whānau: Whānau-centred rather than individual focus
- Suicide prevention: Targeted Māori suicide prevention
- Lived experience: Tāngata Whaiora leadership
- Community partnership: Connections to marae, iwi, and Māori community
- Workforce: Māori mental health workforce development
Tahua's grants management platform helps Māori mental health organisations manage grant applications across Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Whatu Ora, Whānau Ora, gaming trusts, and community funders, tracking kaupapa Māori wellbeing, suicide prevention, and cultural health outcomes.