The health system reforms will enhance rangatiratanga for Māori over hauora Māori and ensure greater influence throughout the entire health system. This is central to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and will help ensure everyone has the same access to good health outcomes. That includes strengthening mana motuhake for whānau – supporting them to take control of their own health and wellbeing.
We need to improve Māori health outcomes and embed the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi as central components of the reforms. This will be driven at all levels in the system.
An interim Māori Health Authority was established in September 2021, ahead of the creation of Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority as an autonomous legal entity on 1 July 2022.
Read more about Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority(external link) on their website.
There are some excellent initiatives throughout the current system, such as flu and MMR vaccination campaigns, community responses to COVID-19, and strong partnerships between Iwi and local health providers. But these initiatives are not consistently available or embedded nationally to improve the experience of care and better outcomes for Māori.
Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority is providing a more consistent, national leadership of health service delivery with a Te Ao Maori perspective.
The Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority works with Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards, Māori health providers and professionals, iwi, hapū and Māori communities to understand Māori health needs and aspirations across New Zealand. It then ensures this is reflected in the priorities and plans of the health system, and how services are designed and delivered to meet those needs, including through the use of kaupapa Māori models and the application of mātauranga Māori in the system.
This will help build a stronger Māori workforce, support the growth in capability and capacity of hauora Māori healthcare providers, and encourage more innovation in services that deliver better outcomes for Māori.
In each local community, partnerships between Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards, Health New Zealand’s regional and district teams, and the wider community will ensure Māori voices are heard, embedded in plans and services, and that health equity for Māori is non-negotiable.
The partnership between the Māori Health Authority and Health New Zealand will invest in services grounded in te ao Māori and ensure the wider health system better recognises and is more responsive to Māori needs, alongside that of the wider population.
When new services are commissioned or existing services are reviewed, the Māori Health Authority will partner with Health New Zealand to make sure service design and priorities reflect the diverse needs of the community, including for Māori.
When services are not performing for Māori, Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority and Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand will ensure the issues are quickly identified, and drive service and system improvement.
Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority works with Manatu Hauora (Ministry of Health) on strategy and policy issues of particular relevance to Māori, providing direction for the health system, ensuring that our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi continues to underpin approaches to hauora.
An interim Māori Health Authority was established in September 2021, ahead of the creation of Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority as an autonomous legal entity on 1 July 2022.
You can find out more about the progress of Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority(external link) on their website.
Associate Minister of Health (Māori Health), Hon Peeni Henare
April 2021
