Te Puni Kōkiri

What Te Puni Kōkiri does

Te Puni Kōkiri is the New Zealand Government Ministry of Māori Development, established in 1991 under the Ministry of Māori Development Act 1991. It leads policy advice to the Government on Māori development and Iwi and Māori relations with the Crown, and serves as the primary statutory interface between the Crown and Māori on development matters. The ministry operates from a national headquarters in Wellington and six regional offices (Te Tai Tokerau, Tāmaki Makaurau, Waikato-Waiariki, Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, Te Tai Hauāuru, Te Waipounamu) covering the entire country, employing approximately 412 staff.

Its service portfolio spans policy advice, Whānau Ora commissioning, Māori housing support (137 papakāinga homes completed since July 2016), economic development programmes (Tōnui Māori, Māori Development Fund), governance support for Māori organisations (Te Pae Ārahi), te reo Māori revitalisation (in partnership with Te Taura Whiri and Te Mātāwai), and redress processes. Digital offerings include Tupu.nz (whenua Māori development portal with 40+ funding opportunities) and Te Kāhui Māngai (iwi directory). The ministry also plays a leading international role in indigenous policy, having negotiated the WIPO GRATTK Treaty in 2024 and signed Indigenous Collaboration Arrangements with Australia (2020) and Canada (2022).

Te Puni Kōkiri is funded entirely through parliamentary appropriations — it does not generate commercial revenue. Its business model is policy delivery, funding administration, and cross-agency coordination on Māori development outcomes. Recent strategic activity includes transferring $17.8 million plus 100 MHz of radio spectrum to the Interim Māori Spectrum Commission (June 2023) and partnering with MBIE on a $42 million Biodiscovery Platform over 7.5 years (announced November 2025). Its competitive position rests on statutory mandate, nationwide regional presence, and deep institutional knowledge of Crown-Māori relations rather than any technology advantage.

Name

Te Puni Kōkiri

Legal name

Te Puni Kōkiri

Website

https://tpk.govt.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Te Puni Kōkiri is New Zealand's Ministry of Māori Development, providing statutory policy advice to Government on Māori development and Crown-Māori relations, and delivering housing, economic, language, and governance programmes to iwi and whānau through 6 regional offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Affairs Ministry

NAICS

Public Administration (92), Administration of Housing Programs (925110), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Central Government Policy, Strategy & Performance (incl. OMB-style functions) (BPAIAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Human Services & Benefits Administration (Welfare, Disability, Child & Family) (BPAIABAI), Governance, Public Financial Management & Service Delivery Reform (BPADAEAD)

Keywords

• Indigenous affairs ministry
• Māori development policy
• Government funding administration
• Treaty settlement advisory
• Māori housing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Te Puni Kōkiri is the New Zealand Government ministry responsible for Māori development policy advice to Parliament and the Crown. It administers government funding programmes, coordinates whole-of-government policy on Māori outcomes (housing, economic development, te reo Māori, governance, whenua Māori), supports Treaty of Waitangi settlement processes, and delivers front-line services such as the Māori Housing Programme, Whānau Ora commissioning, and Governance/Te Pae Ārahi support. The ministry operates a national network of 6 regional offices and digital platforms such as Tupu.nz.

Product overview

Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development) is a New Zealand government ministry that leads policy advice on Māori development and iwi-Māori relations with the Crown. The ministry does not offer a single software product but rather provides a portfolio of government services, funding programmes, and online platforms. Key offerings include Tupu.nz (an online platform for whenua Māori development), Te Kāhui Māngai (iwi directory), the Māori Housing Programme, Whānau Ora commissioning services, economic development programmes (Tōnui Māori, Māori Development Fund), governance support services, te reo Māori resources, and various online services including the Māori Land Court Online Service. These services are accessed primarily through the ministry's website and regional offices across New Zealand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Te Kāhui Māngai: A directory of iwi and Māori organisations
• Tupu.nz
• Te Pae Ārahi

Products and services

• Tupu.nz An online platform that brings together information about more than 40 funding opportunities, tools and resources for whenua Māori (Māori land) owners and developers. Targeted at Māori landowners, iwi/hapū and land development entities seeking capital and capability support.
• Te Kāhui Māngai A national online directory of iwi organisations in New Zealand, providing contact details and information about iwi for use by government agencies, researchers, and Māori communities.
• Governance Service (Te Pae Ārahi) Te Puni Kōkiri's governance capability-building service for Māori organisations, iwi, hapū and post-settlement governance entities, supporting trustees and directors to develop governance skills and practices.
• Māori Housing Programme A Crown-funded housing programme for Māori, delivered through Te Puni Kōkiri's Māori Housing Network and regional offices. Targets Māori whānau and iwi/hapū housing providers to increase the supply of affordable, healthy homes on whenua Māori. As of July 2016, 137 homes had been completed under the programme.
• Te reo Māori Resources Resources and programmes to support the revitalisation and use of te reo Māori, delivered by Te Puni Kōkiri for whānau, hapū, iwi, schools and communities.
• Whānau Ora Commissioning Te Puni Kōkiri's commissioning role for the Whānau Ora initiative, working with Whānau Ora commissioning agencies to support whānau to achieve wellbeing outcomes.
• Going for Growth with Māori | Tōnui Māori An economic development programme from Te Puni Kōkiri supporting Māori businesses and iwi/hapū to grow their economic capability and access opportunities.
• Māori Development Fund A Te Puni Kōkiri fund providing financial support to Māori individuals, whānau, hapū and iwi for development initiatives aligned with the ministry's priorities.
• Te Haeata Te Puni Kōkiri's programme providing accessible data and insights on Māori wellbeing and development outcomes.
• Māori Land Court Online Service Online service supporting Māori land transactions and information, referenced as a Te Puni Kōkiri service for accessing whenua Māori information.
• Te Tautuhi ō Rongo A Te Puni Kōkiri service supporting Māori engagement and outcomes, referenced as part of the ministry's service portfolio.
• Te Ture Whenua Māori Act Services Te Puni Kōkiri services related to the administration of the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act / Māori Land Act, supporting whenua Māori owners with legal and administrative matters relating to Māori land.
• Crown Response to Abuse in Care Inquiry Te Puni Kōkiri's contribution to the Crown's coordinated response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry, supporting redress and follow-up actions for affected Māori.

Quantifiable outcome

• 137 homes completed since 1 July 2016 through Māori housing programmes
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2025Partnership to develop $42 million Biodiscovery Platform over 7.5 years to unlock potential of New Zealand's indigenous fauna. Te Puni Kōkiri's Te Pae Tawhiti team working with MBIE's Māori Science, Innovation and Technology team to shape platform design and ensure Māori can fully engage and benefit.
• Hīkina Whakatutuki (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2023Agreements signed transferring 100 MHz of 3.5 GHz radio spectrum and $17.8 million Ka Hao Fund to Interim Māori Spectrum Commission. Represents culmination of approximately 40 years of work by Māori Spectrum Working Group.
• Interim Māori Spectrum CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2023Established by the Māori Spectrum Working Group as operational arm to undertake responsibilities of intended permanent Māori Spectrum Entity on behalf and for benefit of Māori until permanent Entity is established. Received transfer of spectrum and Ka Hao Fund.
• National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2020Indigenous Collaboration Arrangement (ICA) signed between New Zealand and Australia to advance indigenous peoples through relationship development, improved knowledge sharing, and stronger collaboration. First standalone bilateral arrangement of its kind in the world, signed during Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting by Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Minister Ken Wyatt AM.
• Local ContextsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous organisation providing labels to recognise and protect traditional knowledge across domestic and global databases. Collaborated with Te Puni Kōkiri on He Toa Takitini workshop to share work on protecting indigenous knowledge including mātauranga Māori.
• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's national science agency presented findings on synergies and opportunities for governments to support indigenous-to-indigenous collaboration at He Toa Takitini workshop hosted by Te Puni Kōkiri.
• Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrown body established under Māori Language Act 1987 to promote Māori as a living language and set quality standards for written and spoken Māori. Te Puni Kōkiri leads Māori Language Strategy in partnership with this body.
• Te MātāwaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation established under Te Ture mō te Reo Māori 2016 (The Māori Language Act 2016) to lead revitalisation of te reo Māori on behalf of iwi and Māori. Met for first time at Ōtaki in October 2016.
• Te Māngai Pāho (Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrown Entity established to make funding available to national network of Māori radio stations and for production of Māori language television programmes, radio programmes, and music compilations.
• Whakaata Māori (Māori Television)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAotearoa New Zealand's indigenous broadcaster providing wide range of local and international programmes. Te Reo channel launched in 2008 committed solely to broadcasting in Te Reo Māori (SKYTV channel 82, Freeview channel 15).
• Kāinga OracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga programme for Māori housing development. Tripartite agreements involving Kiwibank as guarantor for papakāinga housing developments. Budget 2021 funding enables Te Puni Kōkiri to build on existing Māori housing programmes.
• Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMāori language nest movement established in early 1980s with mission to protect te reo, tikanga me ngā āhuatanga Māori by targeting participation of mokopuna and whānau into Kōhanga Reo.
• Canadian Ministry of Indigenous ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous Collaboration Arrangement signed August 2022 between governments of Aotearoa-New Zealand and Canada, signed by Minister Willie Jackson and Minister Patty Hajdu, to commit to advancing indigenous peoples through relationship development.
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTe Puni Kōkiri represented New Zealand and played lead role in negotiating and concluding the GRATTK Treaty (Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge) in Geneva, Switzerland in 2024, setting international standard for global IP systems.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) – Oranga Tamariki, etc. Whole-of-government policy and coordination department in NZ. Comparable in statutory advisory role to Te Puni Kōkiri but at a higher cross-cutting level; sets the policy context TPK operates within.
• Ministry of Social Development (MSD): NZ's primary welfare and social services ministry. Adjacent to Te Puni Kōkiri's Whānau Ora and human services functions; both agencies serve overlapping vulnerable populations but MSD operates the mainstream welfare system while TPK targets Māori-specific outcomes.
• Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE): Large NZ ministry partnering with Te Puni Kōkiri on the $42M Biodiscovery Platform and the 2023 spectrum transfer. Broader economic and science portfolio but a direct inter-agency collaborator on Māori-focused economic development.
• Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities: New Zealand's largest public housing agency. Te Puni Kōkiri partners with Kāinga Ora via the Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga programme for papakāinga delivery; Kāinga Ora operates at much greater scale across the broader NZ population.

Emerging players

• Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand): NZ's national health delivery entity with explicit focus on Māori health equity (Māori Health Authority functions now absorbed). Shares Te Puni Kōkiri's mandate to address Māori outcome disparities but in the health domain specifically.

Direct peers

• Indigenous Services Canada (ISC): Canadian federal department serving Indigenous peoples. Co-signed the Indigenous Collaboration Arrangement with Te Puni Kōkiri in August 2022; operates comparable funding, housing, and Crown-Indigenous policy functions.
• Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission): Crown body under the Māori Language Act 1987 partnering with Te Puni Kōkiri on the Māori Language Strategy. Operates within the same Māori development ecosystem with overlapping language revitalisation and standards-setting mandates.
• Te Mātāwai: Statutory body under the Māori Language Act 2016 leading te reo revitalisation on behalf of iwi and Māori. A core partner institution in Te Puni Kōkiri's language strategy, with shared beneficiaries and overlapping governance roles.
• National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA): Australia's whole-of-government agency for Indigenous affairs. Direct counterpart to Te Puni Kōkiri — signed the Indigenous Collaboration Arrangement in 2020 — delivering parallel policy, programme, and international indigenous engagement functions.

Others

• WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization): UN agency where Te Puni Kōkiri led the GRATTK Treaty negotiations in 2024. Not a competitor but an institutional counterpart enabling the ministry's international indigenous IP leadership mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/tepunikokiri
• Facebookfacebook.com/tepunikokiri
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/te-puni-kokiri

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Te Puni Kōkiri