In April 2008 the Ministry of Health announced a significant investment aimed at strengthening the Māori health and disability workforce. This investment included a commitment to fostering clinical leadership and supporting the professional development of Māori nurses and midwives. A project team developed a proposal in November 2008 that was agreed to by the Ministry of Health in March 2009. The Steering Group was established in September 2009 and gave the name Ngā Manukura o Āpōpō - Tomorrows Clinical Leaders. The programme is hosted by the Northland District Health Board. In December 2017 the Ministry of Health extended the contract for a further three years to December 2019.