Te Pāti Māori Pledges $200 Million for Independent Takatāpui Commission and Healthcare

Te Pāti Māori has unveiled a comprehensive $200 million Mana Takatāpui policy ahead of the 2026 election, proposing the creation of a new, independent Takatāpui Commission. As reported by RNZ and Waatea News, the announcement coincided with the final sitting of the 54th Parliament in late September 2026. The proposed body is designed to shift decision-making authority directly into the hands of the takatāpui community, moving away from traditional government advisory models toward a structure of direct community leadership and rangatiratanga. The policy commits the funding over a three-year period, targeting critical areas including healthcare, mental health, housing, safety, education, and culture. Party co-leader Rāwiri Waititi stated the policy is rooted in the fundamental principle of "nothing about takatāpui without takatāpui." Under the proposal, the commission would be governed by takatāpui members and hold the authority to distribute annual funding to community organisations. To ensure true independence, the funding would be managed by Te Puni Kōkiri without ministerial discretion regarding the timing or amount of the allocations. The party intends for the commission to be transparent, requiring both independent audits and public annual reporting. The policy document broadens its scope to include Māori of all diverse genders and sexualities—including whakawāhine, tangata ira tāne, and non-binary identities—while affirming that individuals maintain the right to define their own identities. Beyond administrative structures, the plan pledges to guarantee gender-affirming healthcare within the public system. This includes access to hormone therapy, pathways to specialist care and surgery, and takatāpui-led mental health and suicide prevention services. Furthermore, the policy seeks to protect intersex takatāpui from medically unnecessary interventions, particularly preventing gender-normalising surgeries for intersex tamariki. The initiative also aims to establish safer housing pathways and measures to address violence and hate, ensuring stronger cultural connections through the education system. Mr Waititi emphasised that takatāpui carry whakapapa, tikanga, and mana as whole members of the Māori world. By placing Māori control over ring-fenced resources at the heart of the approach, Te Pāti Māori aims to equip community organisations with the authority to design services that meet their specific needs. This policy stands as a key pillar of the party's strategy to enhance Māori self-determination across all sectors of society as political platforms for the 2026 election begin to take shape.