Financial Independence Programme

In the almost two years since its inception, the Ngāi Tahu Financial Independence Programme has impacted positively on the lives of many Ngāi Tahu individuals and whānau. The programme, funded by Te Puni Kōkiri, was set up to support Ngāi Tahu Whānui to have greater access to financial planning services and grow their financial literacy and ultimately to have greater financial freedom.

More than 60 whānau are now actively engaged in the programme working with professional financial planners to rid themselves of debt and develop plans to assist with achieving their financial goals and aspirations. The success stories have been many with some participants completely turning their lives around.

In response to an identified need, the programme established a budget advice and debt reconciliation service in October 2008. This service facilitated by He Oranga Pounamu works with individuals and whānau with high debt-to-income ratios who are struggling to make ends meet. As a result of the economic recession, the demand has been huge and already more than 40 whānau have utilised the service with some overwhelmingly positive outcomes.

The Ngāi Tahu Financial Independence Programme runs until March 2010.

KMK

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Taking a break from his duties as a tutor in Te Reo Māori and Māori Indigenous Studies at Canterbury University, he talks about the power of language immersion and unquestionable benefits of attending Kotahi Mano Kāika's well-established te reo wanaka, Kā Pari Karakaraka and the inaugural Kura Reo Kāi Tahu held at Te Rau Aroha Marae in Bluff in July. [More...]