Māori Health Authority

The Māori Health Authority is a proposed public health agency established by the New Zealand Government to manage Māori health policies, services, and outcomes. The Health Authority will work alongside the Ministry of Health and the proposed public health agency Health New Zealand, the latter of which will replace the 20 existing district health boards (DHB).[1] On 20 December 2021, Riana Manuel was selected to be the Chief Executive of the agency which would be a permanent agency on 1 July 2022.[2]

Mandate and responsibilities

The Māori Health Authority is a proposed statutory entity responsible for ensuring that the New Zealand health system meets the needs of Māori. It will work in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand to achieve the following stated goals:

  1. leading change in the way the entire health system understands and responds to Māori health needs
  2. developing strategy and policy which will improve Māori health outcomes
  3. commissioning Māori customary services and other services targeting Māori communities
  4. co-commissioning other services alongside Health New Zealand
  5. monitoring the overall performance of the system to reduce Māori health inequities.[3]

The Māori Health Authority will work alongside Health New Zealand with a joint role in developing health system plans, commissioning for primary and community services, and co-commissioning kaupapa Māori services. In addition, the Health Authority will also work alongside the Ministry of Health in developing strategies and policies that meet the needs of Māori.[1] 

History

Policy announcement

On 21 April 2021, Minister of Health Andrew Little announced plans to create the Māori Health Authority, which would be responsible for setting Māori health policies and overseeing the provision of Māori health services. In addition, Little announced that the Government would create two other public health bodies: Health New Zealand, to replace the country's district health boards, and the Public Health Authority, to centralise public health work.[4][5]

The proposed Māori Health Authority was criticised by the opposition National Party health spokesperson Shane Reti, who claimed that it would create a "two-tier system" based on race.[6] Similar sentiments were echoed by National Party leader Judith Collins, who likened it to racial segregation and called for public consultation on the matter. Her remarks were described by Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer as "desperate racist politicking." Ngarewa-Packer also urged Collins to read National's own 2020 election review which advocated making Māori a "priority area". In addition, Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall stated that the proposed Māori Health Authority could ensure Māori input in funding and improving Māori health outcomes.[7]

Formation

In mid September 2021, the Government announced the interim board members of the Māori Health Authority. The organisation will be headed by co-chairs Sharon Shea (chair of the Bay of Plenty District Health Board) and Tipa Mahuta (Deputy Chair of the Counties Manukau District Health Board). Other board members consist of medical specialist and University of Otago Professor Dr Sue Crengle, Dr Mataroria Lyndon, Lady Tureiti Moxon, Fiona Pimm, Awerangi Tamihere, and Dr Chris Tooley (Chief Executive of Te Puna Ora o Mataatua).[8] [9][10]

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 "The new health system". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Chief executives of interim Health New Zealand and interim Māori Health Authority named". RNZ. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "Māori Health Authority / Te Mana Hauora Māori". Future of Health. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  4. ↑ Manch, Thomas; Witton, Bridie (21 April 2021). "Government announces radical plan to centralise healthcare, will abolish DHBs". Stuff. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  5. ↑ Quinn, Rowan (21 April 2021). "Major health sector shake-up: DHBs scrapped and new Māori Health Authority announced". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Walls, Jason (21 April 2021). "'Reckless' health shake-up could create two-tier health system – says the National Party". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  7. ↑ Neilson, Michael (28 April 2021). "Judith Collins calls Māori Health Authority 'segregation' from last century". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  8. ↑ "Boards announced for interim Māori Health Authority and Health New Zealand". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 23 September 2021. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  9. ↑ "Government announces team leading new Health NZ and Māori Health Authority". Radio New Zealand. 23 September 2021. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  10. ↑ Witton, Bridie (23 September 2021). "Health New Zealand and Māori Health Authority board members announced". Stuff. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
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