"That money could have, and should have, gone to families with complex issues that they're trying to deal with."
A former chairman of Te Oranganui, Mr Rurawhe remembered how difficult the four-stage process of getting Whanau Ora funding was. There were lots of hurdles, and then it changed partway through.
"It was like nothing else I have ever experienced, and I've been around for a long time in that space of contracting with government organisations."
Staff at the Health and Social Development ministries have to be part of integrated Whanau Ora contracts, but some were not taking the opportunity to change. Mr Rurawhe believed they were "reluctant partners, putting up lots of barriers".
Whanau who want help had to first have a legal entity - just another piece of "unnecessary bureaucracy", he said.
And he thought some kind of political struggle was going on behind the scenes.
"This is more than teething problems. It runs a lot deeper than that."
Te Oranganui chief executive Nancy Tuaine said the report was fair, but Whanau Ora was still new and needed more time. "It's not as simple as saying, 'Go and show us some results tomorrow'. Many of the whanau we engage with are facing complex challenges in their life and the solutions will be achieved over a longer period of time."
Te Oranganui staff were using the Whanau Ora method to help whanau progress their goals in jobs, education and training, health and family resilience.
The programme needed more commitment from the Health and Social Development Ministries, and more understanding and commitment from Government.
"We have come too far not to go forward. As the report notes, Whanau Ora is innovative and these challenges should not prevent it from continuing," Ms Tuaine said.
Mr Rurawhe said the Government side of the programme should be reviewed, and it needed more oversight.