Formal Relationships

 

Introduction

 

He Oranga Pounamu is committed to following an open and transparent process for Māori Service Provider Affiliation. Any Māori service provider organisation that fits the eligibility criteria is welcome to affiliate with He Oranga Pounamu. This policy aims to be as inclusive as possible (note exception below). However, there are some eligibility criteria that must be met in the first instance. Thereafter the affiliation process is a collaborative process between He Oranga Pounamu and the interested Māori service provider organisation.

 

Background & Review

 

The current process has been developed over the years since 2000. This process has been improved as different issues have arisen related to provider affiliation. The process is based on ensuring that new providers wanting to affiliate have some form of relationship with their local papatipu runaka and other Māori service providers in their community. This policy will be formally reviewed annually. However, review may also occur more frequently should specific issues arise.

 

Exception

 

He Oranga Pounamu recognises all 18 Papatipu Runanga as key stakeholders in the ongoing development of Māori service providers. A formal relationship already exists between each of the 18 Papatipu Runanga and He Oranga Pounamu through Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu. Consequently, papatipu runanga do not affiliate with He Oranga Pounamu as individual entities.

 

Eligibility Criteria

 

Māori service providers wanting to affiliate with He Oranga Pounamu must be:

 

• A Māori service provider as defined by Te Puni Kokiri as follows:
  • Provide services to Māori
  • Are staffed and managed by Māori
  • Have identifiable links to Māori communities, and
  • Have specified accountability arrangements with Māori.
• A legally formed entity, such as an Incorporated Society or Charitable Trust.
• Involved in delivering health and/or social services.
• Able to supply letters of support for affiliation from local papatipu runanga.
• Able to present letters of support from other Māori community service providers in the same community if appropriate.

 

Relationship Agreement

 

The outcome of the affiliation process is a signed Relationship Agreement between He Oranga Pounamu and the interested Māori service provider organisation. The Relationship Agreement that He Oranga Pounamu currently uses was approved by Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu in 2000. Any material changes to this agreement will need to be approved by Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu. Consequently, He Oranga Pounamu does not enter into negotiations with providers regarding the text within the Relationship Agreement.

 

Affiliation Process

 

When a new provider makes contact with He Oranga Pounamu regarding affiliation the initial discussions identify firstly if the provider meets the eligibility criteria and secondly a full explanation about He Oranga Pounamu and our role. The Relationship Agreement is usually offered to the provider for their consideration from the outset of discussions.

 

Following the first discussion the provider then needs to make contact with their local papatipu runaka to get letters of support and other local providers if appropriate. Typically it is a service manager that makes contact with He Oranga Pounamu so usually the draft agreement and information needs to go back to the provider organisation's governance structure for their consideration.

 

Assuming the provider organisation wants to proceed with affiliation they will forward the necessary documents to He Oranga Pounamu. If all documents are in order then He Oranga Pounamu will return a Relationship Agreement to the provider for signing. If the documents are not in order then He Oranga Pounamu will work with the provider to organise the necessary documentation.

 

He Oranga Pounamu is readily available to meet with the interested provider during this process to facilitate the affiliation process. Where problems arise He Oranga Pounamu will actively mediate a resolution where possible but if the final outcome is unsatisfactory to either or both parties then the Dispute Resolution process outlined below will be initiated.

 

He Oranga Pounamu will not exclude a provider simply because they are delivering services the same as or similar to another provider in the same area. All providers are considered on their contribution to services in their local area. This is based on the view that generally the need for services to Māori in any area is greater than the local capacity to meet needs. The obstacle is usually that the funding is inadequate to meet the Māori community's true needs.

 

Disputes Resolution

 

It is possible that an occasion will arise where local runanga do not support a provider in their region who wishes to affiliate with He Oranga Pounamu. In such a situation the final decision regarding whether or not a provider can affiliate with He Oranga Pounamu will be at the sole discretion of the Board of Trustees, He Oranga Pounamu. Management of He Oranga Pounamu will be responsible for providing the Trustees with comprehensive and accurate information to enable the Trustees to make an informed decision.

 

Key Documents/Checklist

 

The following key documents will be required to support the affiliation process:

1. Letter of engagement from the organisation.
2. Response to provider organisation outlining process and documentation required.
3. Letter from He Oranga Pounamu to local Papatipu runaka advising that provider is seeking to affiliate with He Oranga Pounamu and requesting any comments in favour or opposing provider affiliation.
4. Copy of Organisation constitution.
5. Copy of Certificate of Registration.
6. Support letters from Māori service providers in local community.
7. Provider contact information.
8. If problems are identified, then He Oranga Pounamu meets with the provider and/or facilitates resolution, recording all communication.

 

Response to provider organisation advising of outcome of affiliation application process.