The first steps towards disestablishing the Māori Health Authority Te Aka Whai Ora will progress today, with the Government confirming the introduction of legislation to do so.
It will be officially disestablished by June 30 this year, the Government says.
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the legislation heralds the "start of a new vision for Māori health".
“We have said we will bring healthcare for all New Zealanders closer to the home and closer to the community. This will serve Māori and non-Māori well."
The Pae Ora (Disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority) Amendment Bill took a narrow focus on the changes needed to disestablish the Māori Health Authority, he said.
“By the end of March, all remaining roles and functions will transfer to Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora and the Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora under the Health Sector (Transfers) Act 1993.
He said the authority would be officially disestablished by June 30, 2024.
"The narrow focus on disestablishment doesn’t mean an end to our focus on Māori health for those who need it. We know the solutions for Māori communities come from Māori communities — not a centralised Wellington hub."
He said the Government was committed to finding more efficient ways to "work together to deliver those solutions", as well as savings which could go "back into better health outcomes".
'We need function over form' - Dr Shane Reti
"Merging the functions of the Māori Health Authority and transferring its roles into the public health system means the health system keeps the expertise it needs to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders, including Māori."
Reti said he acknowledged the many people who had been part of the organisation, and said their expertise was valuable.
"I look forward to your ongoing input into New Zealand’s health system."
He said Iwi Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs) and the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee remained in place. Both were established under the Pae Ora Act 2023.
"The Government will continue working with both groups to chart a new direction for Māori health. Their voices may evolve but both can have a role.
"No matter how the health system is shaped, what’s important is how it functions.
The bill to scrap the Māori Health Authority is set to be introduced today, ahead of the Waitangi Tribunal hearing a challenge to the move. (Source: Breakfast)
"We need function over form, we need results over reports.
"The Government intends to shift decision-making closer to communities to allow the people who know their communities best to guide service design and commissioning."
The policy announcement fulfils a commitment made under National's coalition agreements with both ACT and New Zealand First.
Introduction of bill before Waitangi Tribunal hearing 'evasive and cowardly' - Labour
Labour Associate Health (Māori Health) spokesperson Peeni Henare said disestablishing the Māori Health Authority ahead of an emergency Waitangi Tribunal hearing was not only hasty, but went against the Treaty of Waitangi and the advice of experts.
“Rushing through the dissolution of Te Aka Whai Ora is evasive and cowardly, and ignores steps put in place by generations to ensure Governments are held to account for Māori health.
“We know that Māori have a shorter life expectancy than others in New Zealand, and they historically have worse access to the social and medical services that might change this. By taking away the very initiative designed to improve Māori health so they can live as long as the rest of the population, the Government is showing New Zealand that it wants to take our people backwards."
He claimed the Government's planned changes would also mean the Ministry of Health could not be advised by Māori.
'Plonked right back where we started' - Lady Tureiti Moxon
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Māori health advocate Lady Tureiti Moxon said it was important to retain the health authority, as it was a system where Māori can “have control” in a way that “we believe is right for us”.
“Here we are again being plonked right back where we started, right back into a system that really doesn’t work for Māori, [that] never has worked for Māori.
“And believe me, [it] will never work for Māori.”
She said it was "disrespectful" that the move was being made before a Waitangi Tribunal hearing on the matter can be heard.
SHARE ME