Systematic continuous quality improvement underpins the Standards Development and Accreditation Programme and the Standards. Quality is viewed as the result of a way of thinking and working rather than a single event or set of events leading to accreditation. There is an expectation that all participating organisations will have embedded, or be in the process of embedding quality into their everyday work practices.

Te Wana has a constitutional commitment to actively engage in and promote a partnership model. Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the “whariki” (woven mat) upon which true partnership which implies full participation and active protection is developed, therefore Te Wana has specific treaty standards to be used with the programme.

Te Wana Quality Standards and Accreditation Programme was launched in 2000 by Health Care Aotearoa (HCA) following extensive community consultation. The programme was and remains aimed towards the broader tangata whenua, community and voluntary sectors.

HCA originally developed Te Wana as a quality system for its membership of primary health care organisations and they broadened this to the wider community sector with enrolment by non government services and agencies and additional standards for non health and/or clinical services.

HCA fostered the programme until it became an independent body in 2012. Te Wana acknowledges and pays respect to all those who came before for their commitment, wisdom and support.

Administered by Te Wana Trust, an independent community-based organisation, Te Wana offers Quality Standards and Accreditation programmes with a continuous quality improvement and accreditation focus as well as audits, capability mentoring and consultancy.

Te Wana Trust is committed to remaining an organisation that acknowledges Māori as tangata whenua and respects Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The underpinning values of Te Wana are Te Tiriti o Waitangi, continuous quality improvement, community participation and collaborative teamwork.

To be a leader for inspiring a culture of quality and continuous improvement.

To assist organisations on the programme to achieve and demonstrate excellence in their operations and services

To encourage, foster and provide continuous quality improvement programmes and solutions for community primary health, mental health, and the wider tangata whenua, community and voluntary sector so that they may be the finest they can be in the best interests of the communities they serve.

To promote Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) as the whariki (basis) upon which true partnership can be developed. This implies participation by both Tiriti o Waitangi parties in the Trust. This will enable the Trust to demonstrate respect to Treaty-based relationships and therefore promote such relationships with organisations described above.

To promote and foster shared learning between community-based organisations and individuals who work within community organisations through participation in a robust peer review system and ongoing training seminars and workshops.

A Treaty-based commitment to inspire a culture of continuous quality improvement.

Internationally endorsed accreditation through AAA-NZ.

- "Thank you for the support and advice which improved the way we operated.  I feel with your organisation’s help we were able to work in the community with integrity, aroha and manaaki ki te tangata."
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- "I found it to be a supported process where guidance and information relevant to the process was readily available."
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- "The report was very thorough, detailed and showing a really good understanding of our organisation and how we work.

- "We have so many activities going on that it’s not easy to capture the true extent of our mahi but I think you and your team have done a great job of this."
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- "The standards are easy to understand and follow and this allowed us to critically reflect on what we do and how we do it."
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- "The final report is excellent and provides the organisation with very useful recommendations and guidance on the areas to focus on and improve."

- "Highly commend the entire review team, who were knowledgeable, courteous and efficient throughout the process."