National Urban Māori Authority
1. Business / Trading Name: National Urban Māori Authority (commonly known as “NUMA”)
2. Company Number: 1273770 (incorporation number as listed on the Charitable Trust Register)
3. NZBN: 9429042983293 (as listed on the Charitable Trust Register)
4. Entity Type: Charitable Trust (established by trust deed on 8 May 2003)
5. Business Classification: Social and community services (focus on education, health, housing, justice, etc., for urban Māori)
6. Industry Category: Non-profit social services organisation
7. Year Founded: 2003 (formally launched 3 May 2003 as a national collective for urban Māori)
8. Addresses:
• Whānau House, Pioneer Street, Henderson, Auckland (headquarters)
• 7 Shirley Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland (South Auckland office for Manukau affiliate)
9. Website URL: www.numa.co.nz
10. LinkedIn URL: https://nz.linkedin.com/company/national-urban-m%C4%81ori-authority
11. Company Hub NZ URL: Data Not Found (not listed on CompanyHub; as a charity it’s outside typical company listings)
12. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.businessregisters.govt.nz/sber-businesses/viewInstance/view.html?id=229a78e05307b6d8bf1b29667f00cb1748ea3e8cfcee580e&_timestamp=2295746037577086 (Charitable Trust Register)
13. Social Media URLs:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NUMANewZealand/ (official page with community updates)
• LinkedIn: See above (LinkedIn company page)
(No official Twitter account identified; primary outreach via Facebook and website.)
14. Ultimate Holding Company: Not Applicable – NUMA is an independent trust, not owned by any parent entity
15. Key Shareholders: Not Applicable – As a trust, it has no shareholding; however, it is the majority owner (88%) of Te Pou Matakana Ltd (Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency). (Founding members of NUMA include regional Urban Māori Authorities rather than shareholders.)
16. Leadership:
• Chairperson: Lady Tureiti Moxon (Waikato health leader, appointed as NUMA Chair by ~2018; also Chair of Te Kōhao Health)
• Chief Executive Officer: John Tamihere (former Labour MP; CEO of Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust; became NUMA CEO in 2014)
• Founding Chairman: Willie Jackson (established NUMA in 2003; former Alliance MP, later Labour MP and Minister)
• Deputy Chair (historic): Bernie O’Donnell (appointed to Te Mātāwai Board in 2020; involved in Manukau Urban Māori Authority)
(Leadership is drawn from prominent urban Māori figures; governance has rotated as members take up political or sector roles.)
17. Staff: Approximately 51–200 employees (as per LinkedIn). Staff include policy advisors, community workers, and management drawn from member organisations. Key staff/board members also serve in related entities (e.g. Awerangi Tamihere – Whānau Ora, Merepeka Raukawa-Tait – Whānau Ora Chair).
18. Staff that have held previous government roles:
• John Tamihere – former Cabinet Minister (Minister of Youth Affairs and others, 2002–2004).
• Willie Jackson – former Minister of Employment and Associate Māori Development (2017–2023).
• Lady Tureiti Moxon – former member of the Waitangi Tribunal (judicial public role).
(NUMA’s leadership has a pronounced “revolving door” with government, including ex-MPs and crown appointees.)
19. Past Employees:
• Willie Jackson (NUMA Chair 2003–2017) – departed to re-enter Parliament.
• June Jackson (former CEO of Manukau Urban Māori Authority, mother of Willie Jackson) – early advisor to NUMA, now deceased.
• (Data on other past staff not publicly documented.) Many past staff returned to government roles or other Māori agencies, reflecting NUMA’s talent pipeline into public service.
20. Clients: Not Applicable (NUMA is not a lobby-for-hire firm; it represents and serves its member organisations and urban Māori whānau directly. Its “clients” are effectively Māori families in urban centers and the affiliated Urban Māori Authorities.)
21. Industries/Sectors Represented: Social services (whānau welfare), health, education, justice, housing, broadcasting and Māori development sectors. NUMA advocates for urban Māori interests across multiple sectors, often focusing on government policy in welfare, health equity, and Treaty issues.
22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements:
• Regular submissions to Parliament (e.g. Justice Select Committee in 2025 on Treaty Principles legislation).
• Participation in Government forums (e.g. Māori Affairs Committee hearings, Whānau Ora partnership meetings – disclosed via press releases and Hansard).
• Meetings with Ministers (ad hoc – e.g. NUMA leaders met with Whānau Ora Minister for commissioning contract discussions). (No formal lobbying register exists in NZ to log all engagements; NUMA’s known interactions come from media and OIA disclosures.)
23. Affiliations: NUMA is a coalition of seven Urban Māori Authorities across five cities. Key affiliates include:
• Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust (West Auckland) – Founding member; CEO John Tamihere.
• Manukau Urban Māori Authority (MUMA) (South Auckland) – Founding member; historically led by Willie Jackson, now by Tania Rangiheuea (Jackson’s wife).
• Te Kōhao Health (Hamilton) – Waikato urban Māori provider led by Lady Tureiti Moxon.
• Ngā Ngaru o Aotearoa (Wellington) – urban Māori collective in Wellington region (affiliate, collaborated on contracts).
• WERA Aotearoa Charitable Trust (Rotorua/Bay of Plenty) – affiliate focusing on training and employment.
(These and other regional groups form NUMA’s network. NUMA is also closely aligned with Te Pāti Māori – the Māori Party – through overlapping leadership.)
24. Sponsorships / Collaborations:
• Partnered with Chinese firm Mindray to bring medical technology to Māori providers (establishing trade relationships for health innovation in 2024).
• Long-standing collaboration with Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development) as the Whānau Ora commissioning partner, effectively co-designing social programs.
• Supported Māori sports and community events (NUMA has sponsored local kapa haka and kaumātua events via its members – e.g. kaumātua forums in Waikato).
• Media partnerships: content collaborations with Māori media (e.g. Waatea News, The Spinoff Ātea for urban Māori stories).
25. Events (organised/hosted):
• Urban Māori National Hui (2003): First national hui at Hoani Waititi Marae launching NUMA’s agenda.
• Whānau Ora Hui (annual): Hosting annual Whānau Ora conferences and provider gatherings since 2014 (e.g. 2018 Whānau Ora Hui streamed online).
• Independent Māori Inquiry into Oranga Tamariki (2019): NUMA leaders convened a series of hui investigating state care of Māori children, culminating in a report challenging government policies.
• Political Forums: NUMA frequently holds political kōrero sessions – e.g. Willie Jackson and John Tamihere hosted public debates and Marae-based discussions on Māori issues (such as Foreshore & Seabed in 2003 and Māori health reforms in 2021).
26. Political Donations:
• Undeclared Campaign Funding: NUMA was found to have paid NZ$70,833 toward John Tamihere’s 2019 Auckland mayoral campaign and NZ$82,695 toward his 2020 General Election run. These payments (alongside ~$385k from Waipareira Trust) made NUMA and its partners among NZ’s largest political donors in 2019–2020.
• Charitable Funds Breach: The funding, structured as “loans” and support to Tamihere, breached Charities Act rules banning partisan donations by charities. Charities Services launched a multi-year investigation as a result.
• Cessation & Repayment: In May 2023, under regulator pressure, NUMA’s partner Waipareira Trust agreed to cease political funding and seek repayment of loans. Tamihere was forced to repay the funds by early 2024.
• Ongoing Scrutiny: The case was referred to the Charities Registration Board in 2024, threatening NUMA and Waipareira’s charitable status. Tamihere lambasted the investigation as biased, even boycotting media coverage he deemed hostile. (No traditional “political donations” to parties by NUMA are officially recorded; the controversy stemmed from undisclosed support for its CEO’s campaigns.)
27. Controversies:
• Charity Law Breaches: The above political funding saga is a major controversy, with NUMA accused of using charitable funds for partisan aims. It prompted warnings from regulators and put NUMA’s integrity in question. NUMA publicly denied wrongdoing and claimed to be unfairly targeted.
• “Fiefdom” Allegations: Political commentators describe NUMA’s ecosystem as a “South Auckland fiefdom” – a network controlled by Tamihere and allies, reliant on government contracts while blurring charity and political work. The Tamihere family’s dominance (John as CEO, his wife Awerangi as COO of Waipareira) and Willie Jackson’s whānau running MUMA have raised eyebrows about nepotism and governance integrity.
• Regulatory Investigations: Besides Charities Services, NUMA’s finances came under Serious Fraud Office (SFO) speculation (NUMA angrily asserted it was “NOT under investigation” when rumours arose). A warning in 2022 from Charities Services was framed by NUMA as miscommunication, with the Chair accusing officials of misleading the press.
• Public Spats: NUMA leaders have courted controversy with aggressive rhetoric – e.g. Tamihere accusing media of racism for reporting on NUMA’s political donations, or Lady Tureiti warning of a “colonial takeover” by the 2023–2025 Government, language that drew political ire. While speaking for Māori rights, such outspoken style sometimes polarises public opinion.
• Historic Conflicts: In its early years, NUMA clashed with established iwi bodies – notably fighting the Māori Fisheries Commission in court for a share of fisheries settlement assets for “urban Māori”. In 2003, Chairman Willie Jackson’s criticism of iwi leaders (“patronising and arrogant”) made headlines during that battle, reflecting long-standing tensions between NUMA and tribal institutions.
28. Other Information of Note:
• Whānau Ora Commissioning: NUMA effectively operates the North Island Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency (branded as Te Pou Matakana, now Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, WOCA) via its 88% shareholding. This brings in substantial government funding – e.g. $182 million allocated in one Budget for Whānau Ora, with NUMA’s agency skimming at least $6m in management fees. This dual role (service provider and lobbyist) enhances NUMA’s influence – and criticism that it is “state funded” political machinery.
• Media Assets: NUMA affiliates own Māori radio stations (Radio Waatea and others) and media outlets. These give NUMA leaders platforms to shape public discourse. (Willie Jackson and Tamihere even hosted talkback shows, blending advocacy with media influence.) Such control of media by a lobbying entity is unusual and amplifies its voice in politics.
• Political Crossover: In 2020, John Tamihere became co-leader and later President of Te Pāti Māori (Māori Party) while still heading NUMA – a bold overlap of lobbying and partisan politics. NUMA’s campaigning for Māori Party policies (e.g. calling out government over Treaty rights) blurs lines between charity and political entity. This crossover is central to debates about NUMA’s integrity.
• Local Government Influence: NUMA’s figures have held sway in Auckland local bodies – Tamihere sat on the Auckland Council’s Independent Māori Statutory Board and ran for mayor, while NUMA coordinates urban Māori voter drives. It also engages with Auckland Council (streaming Council meetings for Māori audiences) to ensure urban Māori representation at the city level.
29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: Data Not Found. (No public record of NUMA itself claiming COVID-19 wage subsidies. It’s possible some member organisations did, but no evidence NUMA centrally took wage subsidy support during 2020–21. The organisation’s government funding likely kept it solvent without emergency subsidies.)
Sources
[1] Maori Fisheries Act 2004 – Definitions (excerpt), New Zealand Legislation, faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nze151656original.pdf (see definition of “National Urban Māori Authority”)
[2] Key Points on Te Pou Matakana’s payments to shareholders (OIA document excerpt), Te Puni Kōkiri / Charities Services (via FYI.govt.nz release), 2018.
[3] Te Pou Matakana Ltd Company Info (shareholding breakdown), BusinessCheck NZ, businesscheck.co.nz.
[4] NUMA Founding Chair Willie Jackson selected (Scoop press release), National Urban Māori Authority via Scoop, 5 May 2003.
[5] NUMA achieves first funding milestone (Scoop press release), National Urban Māori Authority via Scoop, 1 July 2003.
[6] Willie Jackson condemns Fisheries Commission (Scoop press release), NUMA via Scoop, 3 Dec 2003.
[7] Lady Tureiti Moxon warns of ‘Colonial takeover’ (Justice Select Committee submission), NUMA via Scoop News, 27 Jan 2025.
[8] NUMA official website – About & Contact, NUMA (official), numa.co.nz.
[9] NUMA official website – Media releases, NUMA (official), numa.co.nz.
[10] NUMA LinkedIn Company Profile, LinkedIn, linkedin.com.
[11] John Tamihere – LinkedIn snippet, LinkedIn, linkedin.com.
[12] John Tamihere investigated for campaign funding from NUMA, Wikipedia (citing Charities Services), en.wikipedia.org.
[13] Matt Nippert, “Waipareira Trust to try to claw back $385,000 in loans to John Tamihere campaigns”, NZ Herald / Te Ao Māori News, 17 May 2023.
[14] Investigation into Waipareira political donations referred to Board, Matt Nippert, NZ Herald, 9 July 2024.
[15] Centrist summary: “Government investigation into Tamihere’s ‘fiefdom’”, Centrist.nz (quoting Dr. Bryce Edwards), 25 July 2024.
[16] Dr. Bryce Edwards, “The Investigations into Te Pāti Māori and John Tamihere’s fiefdom”, Democracy Project, July 2024.
[17] NUMA applauds Justice report recommendations, RNZ News – Te Manu Korihi, 22 Nov 2020.
[18] NUMA appoints Bernie O’Donnell to Te Mātāwai Board, Te Mātāwai (press release), 5 Oct 2020.
[19] Urban Māori – Te Ara Encyclopedia, Te Ara (Government Encyclopedia), updated 2015.
[20] The Emergence and Evolution of Urban Māori Authorities, Te Kaharoa Journal (AUT University), vol.1, 2008.
[21] Te Hao Rangahau – NUMA founded (Chronology), Ministry of Social Development, tehaorangahau.msd.govt.nz.
[22] Corrections Contract Award Notice – Tiaki Tangata Reintegration, GETS (Government Electronic Tenders), July 2015.
[23] Simon Day, “Urban Māori authority launches inquiry into Oranga Tamariki”, The Spinoff, 2019.
[24] NUMA partners with Mindray (China) – medical tech deal, NUMA Press Release via Scoop, 16 Sep 2024.
[25] Jamie Ensor, “Māori leader defends strike action threat on Budget”, Newstalk ZB (via Twitter/X), 28 May 2024.
[26] “Māori not to be trusted” – Opinion, John Tamihere via NUMA website, 2023.
[27] Willie Jackson on Q+A panel (media role), Scoop News, 2014.
[28] Charities Services confirms NUMA/Waipareira investigation, Natasha Weight (Charities Services) – quoted in NZ Herald, 30 Sept 2022.
[29] Complaint alleged Te Pāti Māori misused vax info, Andrea Vance, The Post, 5 June 2024.
[30] Data and enrolment allegations at Manurewa Marae, Dr. Rawiri Taonui, Waatea News, 8 July 2024.
Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz