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The urbanisation of Maori during the 60’s to the 80’s saw the breakdown of iwi, hapu systems. The disconnection from tribal economic bases and supports systems, resulted in health and social disparities, and marginalisation of wealth creation opportunities. Maori leadership with support from iwi leadership within the cities forged consolidated efforts in the wairua of kotahitanga to address these issues.

Heralding the birth of urban Maori authorities like: Te Whanau o Waipareira; Manukau Urban Maori Authority; Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa; Te Roopu Awhina ki Porirua Trust; and Te Runanga o Nga Maata Waka, formed NUMA in 2003. The objectives were to further the sustainable development and coordination of Urban Maori authorities so that better outcomes for whanau are achieved. (He Kohinga Kete, 2004).

Current NUMA organisations are situated in the five major centres of Aotearoa, where a high number of Maori reside in West Auckland, South Auckland, Hamilton, Porirua, Wellington, and Christchurch.

We provide a strong foundation for the continued support of Maori through being grounded at local level and actively owned by our communities, together with the support of a national capacity. NUMA organisations have been selected first for their experience, extensive and proven abilities in providing quality services to their community (see appendices) evidenced in the collective asset base of the need to maintain and grow such a strong asset base is to align with the continued population growth of Maori in the five major centres. In 2006, there were 643,977 people usually living in NZ who were of Maori descent (Census 2006). Of this population particularly for the NUMA regions they have more than a third of their total population under the age of 15 years (2006). To face these challenges all Maori (iwi and pan-tribal groupings) need to work collaboratively in the urban centres as exampled by the ‘Hapai te Hauora’ tripartite arrangement with Ngati Whatua, Tainui and Te Whanau O Waipareira (refer to appendices).

NUMA'S STRENGTHS