Kia ora e te whānau,

Our focus is the long-term wellbeing of our mokopuna. Although primary care for tamariki under six is free in Aotearoa, there are gaps when whānau need timely specialist care. The Mokopuna Ōranga Pūmau (MOP) programme helps close those gaps by funding specialist treatment and urgent hospital costs so mokopuna can be seen at the right time.

MOP was started under the leadership of the late Dame Iritana Tāwhiwhirangi, with an early emphasis on ear, nose and throat (ENT) care so mokopuna could hear well and thrive in te reo. During this years haerenga the Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board signalled the prioritising of the health and wellbeing of the mokopuna through the MOP initiative. This is still a kaupapa that will continue to be funded and supported by the Kōhanga Reo National Trust.

Why this matters

• Without ongoing contributions, MOP cannot continue, as the Trust receives no external funding and the programme is funded entirely from within the kaupapa

• MOP needs your support. In 2024, MOP funded care for 78 mokopuna at a cost of $244,620

• $25 per mokopuna, per year, helps ensure all mokopuna have the best start, by keeping timely access to specialists within reach
   

What is changing

Following approval from the Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board, we are reinstating the original Kōhanga contribution model to keep MOP sustainable and available to our mokopuna. Each Kōhanga will contribute $25 per enrolled mokopuna, each year. This small annual contribution helps meet rising costs and maintains timely access to specialists.

Average costs now exceed $3,000 per mokopuna, with some treatments higher, for example specialist eye care at about $10,000 per mokopuna and specialist dental care at about $4,000 per mokopuna. Contributions help share these costs fairly across the kaupapa.
 

Who MOP is for

MOP is available to mokopuna who are currently enrolled in, and attending, a Kōhanga Reo.


What MOP covers

MOP provides funding for specialist treatment and urgent hospital costs. Examples include consultant costs, grommets, care for ear, nose and throat conditions, eye testing and glasses, and urgent dental extractions that require anaesthetic. MOP does not fund general primary care which is already free for under sixes. There is no direct charge to whānau for approved care, providers invoice the Trust directly.

How to access MOP

1. Visit your GP with your mokopuna and obtain a formal referral letter to a specialist.

2. Complete the Mokopuna Oranga Pūmau – Whānau information form and attach the referral letter for the Trust to review. Please use the same name your mokopuna is registered under at your Kōhanga Reo to avoid delays.

3. If approved, the Trust will notify you and forward the approval to the specialist. Approval initially covers the first specialist visit, with invoices sent to the Trust for payment into authorised accounts. 

4. After the first visit, the specialist sends the treatment plan and associated costs to the Trust. Further costs must be approved by the Trust before treatment, including any surgery.

For more information, including the whānau form and contact details, please visit the Mokopuna Ōranga Pūmau page on our website.

How contributions will work

The contribution will be collected via an annual deduction from Kaupapa Funding, beginning with the July 2026 funding drop. The amount will be based on the average number of enrolled mokopuna over the prior 12 month period from July to June. We will provide a reminder and step by step information ahead of the first deduction.
 

Our commitment

We will continue to advocate for public funding, shorter waitlists and partnerships that support this kaupapa. Reinstating the contribution is an interim step that lets us keep delivering care while longer term solutions are progressed.

If your Kōhanga has concerns about affordability or circumstances, please contact Kaupapa Support Services so we can kōrero and work through options. Email: [email protected] or call 0800 KOHANGA (0800 564 2642)

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou mō tō tautoko i te oranga o ā tātou mokopuna.
 

Ngā manaakitanga,
Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board