What is Sorted in Communities?
This programme builds financial wellbeing within Māori and Pacific communities. We work alongside a range of partners, including Te Puni Kōkiri, Kāinga Ora and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, to deliver initiatives that grow better financial futures for iwi, family, whānau and beyond.
“The wānanga was a great experience. I had all these lightbulb moments, and was connected to real opportunities and things I’d never heard of, like shared ownership and rent-to-own. I just hadn’t realised how close we were. Between KiwiSaver, first home grants and other sources, we were so close.”
Ben Armstrong – Sorted Kāinga Ora participant (who has subsequently trained to become a facilitator).Sorted Kāinga Ora
Developed and delivered by Māori for Māori, the Sorted Kāinga Ora programme was co-created by Te Puni Kōkiri and Te Ara Ahunga Ora to empower whānau to realise their mana motuhake when it comes to their housing aspirations. Hundreds of people have taken part in this transformational, award-winning programme since the pilot began in 2018, and a number have successfully achieved their ultimate goal of becoming homeowners.
The nationwide, eight-week course focuses on building the financial capability of whānau through eight workshops. Participants are then provided with follow-up support to assist them to continue implementing their plans. On graduation, participants better understand their housing goals, whether they’re:
- ready to buy a home
- needing to grow their savings
- wanting to continue renting.
In partnership with Te Puni Kōkiri.
Meet the team
Ana Tu'inukuafe, Stakeholder Specialist
Among various other academic qualifications, Ana holds a PGDip Political Studies. She has spent the past 20 years working with Māori and Pacific people across different sectors and is currently responsible for leading several projects that empower these communities to improve their financial wellbeing, including the Sorted Kāinga Ora homeownership programme and Te Rito Hou – a Māori financial wellbeing programme developed by Te Ara Ahunga Ora, Māori bankers rōpū Tāwhia and the New Zealand Banking Association. A firm advocate not only for Māori and Pacific people but also women and young people, Ana’s driven by her personal experiences of the power of financial knowledge and taking action.
Pacific Peoples Pathways to Home Ownership
In 2021, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples partnered with Te Ara Ahunga Ora to design the Sorted Pacific Peoples Pathways to Home Ownership programme. Skills Update Training and Education Group then delivered it on our behalf.
The programme focused on building the financial capability of 1200 Pacific households over three years to assist them in achieving their home ownership aspirations. It was:
- A 12-hour online course held over one or two weeks to teach financial skills and knowledge and build financial resilience
- Delivered in small groups of up to 40 participants, enabling people to get personalised support
- Built using quality assured and assessed course content
- Holistically integrated around families and communities grounded in Pacific values
- For people of Pacific descent aged 18-plus, who reside permanently in Aotearoa NZ. At least one household member was required to be of Pacific Heritage.
In partnership with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
Natalie Palmer, Stakeholder Specialist
Natalie led the delivery of the Pacific Peoples Pathways to Home Ownership programme, and currently works alongside government, industry, iwi and non-profit partners on the National Strategy for Financial Capability, while managing workplace programme Sorted at Work. She’s passionate about financial education and the transformative impact it can have on people’s financial journeys.
