Moana Pasifika's future looks uncertain despite their fourth and most successful Super Rugby campaign. 

The Herald reports concerns centre around the charity Pasifika Medical Association Group which bought the franchise last year and a reduction in their Whanau Ora contracts. 

Those have previously been used to bolster Moana Pasifika's finances, a strategy reported as quietly contentious among Polynesian health service providers. 

Earlier this month, 15 players were released from this year’s squad. 

Newstalk ZB’s Jason Pine told Ryan Bridge that sponsorships are never easy to come by. 

He says there’s a lot of revenue streams, but none of them are increasing, so it’s got to be furrowing the brows of those at Moana Pasifika HQ. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Note: The original story from the NZ Herald has been updated to clarify that Whanau Ora funds flowed to the Moana Pasifika Charitable Trust, and the current owner of the Trust and the team, Pasifika Medical Association, has emphasised that no Whānau Ora funds have been used to fund the Moana Pasifika professional rugby team. The Herald has removed from the story the contention that Whānau Ora funds were directly used for the professional team in the fiscal years 22/23 and 23/24.

Moana Pasifika's future looks uncertain despite their fourth and most successful Super Rugby campaign.&nbsp;
The Herald reports concerns centre around the charity Pasifika Medical Association Group which bought the franchise last year and a reduction in their Whanau Ora contracts.&nbsp;
Those have previously been used to bolster Moana Pasifika's finances, a strategy reported as quietly contentious among Polynesian health service providers.&nbsp;
Earlier this month, 15 players were released from this year’s squad.&nbsp;
Newstalk ZB’s Jason Pine told Ryan Bridge that sponsorships are never easy to come by.&nbsp;
He says there’s a lot of revenue streams, but none of them are increasing, so it’s got to be furrowing the brows of those at Moana Pasifika HQ.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;
Note: The original story from the NZ Herald has been updated to clarify that Whanau Ora funds flowed to the Moana Pasifika Charitable Trust, and the current owner of the Trust and the team, Pasifika Medical Association, has emphasised that no Whānau Ora funds have been used to fund the Moana Pasifika professional rugby team. The Herald has removed from the story the contention that Whānau Ora funds were directly used for the professional team in the fiscal years 22/23 and 23/24.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Jason Pine: Weekend Sport Host on Moana Pasifika's financial struggles

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8c833b2a-2865-4c08-a1a5-b30701794e5e/transcript