Herenga Waka – WOCA COVID-19 Response Report

This report provides a snapshot of a year-long study of the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency (WOCA) COVID-19 response from the period March 2020 to June 2021, in particular, the strengths, challenges, and lessons that can be learnt from this response. This is important not only for those working within the WOCA, but also for other Māori-led organisations, as well as for policy-makers and commissioners who are looking for new and innovative ways to support Māori communities.

WOCA partners demonstrated time and time again their extraordinary capability and capacity to predict and respond to the needs of whānau – from the setting up of local warehouses for the distribution of kai and hygiene packs, local COVID-19 testing stations including mobile units, iwi checkpoints, as well as numerous digital innovations including organisational specific contact and tracing apps, CBAC management tool, and warehouses management systems.

Wai Research would like to thank WOCA for their feedback and assistance throughout the production of this report.