Māori health officials gather in Waitangi to bid Te Aka Whai Ora farewell two years after its establishment. Video / Te Ao
Crowded House once said “Don’t dream it’s over”, and while gone for now, a single health authority dedicated to better Māori health outcomes remains in the hearts of many Māori.
Te Aka Whai Ora was established in 2022, following major New Zealand health system changes, to be a one-stop funding shop for Māori health providers.
Although disappointed, Te Aka Whai Ora chair Tipa Mahuta believes this is not the end for a dedicated Māori health authority.
“Te Aka Whai Ora began with a mission to transform Māori health outcomes.”
“Te Aka Whai Ora has been put on hold; it will be up to us as Māori to revive it once times have changed and Māori health will get better. But we continue to hold tino rangatiratanga.”
A small group of Te Aka Whai Ora senior executives met on Sunday - which would have been the first anniversary of authority - with former associate health minister Peeni Henare.
Henare says Mahuta and founding chief executive Riana Manuel thanked all those who believed in the dream and worked hard for it.
“We look after our seed and hope to plant it again in future so a big thank you to all the kaimahi and I know they will continue to be champions for Maori health and health inequities across the country as they go back to the mothership they call it, Te Whatu Ora,” Henare said.
Most Māori Health Authority staff have gone back to the community health sector.
Māori health outcomes left to partnership boards
The disestablishment of Te Aka Whai Ora, Pae Ora (Disestablishment of Māori Health Authority) Amendment Bill, came as part of the Government’s first 100-day action plan. In February of this year, the bill was presented to Parliament.
Now, Tipa says, much of the job for Maori health will be left up to the iwi Māori partnership boards and the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee.
“To every whānau and hapū, talk to your iwi/Māori partnership boards, they will have the authority to advocate, to be a voice, and to gain knowledge in the coming days.”
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the whole of the Maōri Advisory Committee has been retained.
Some parts will remain
Health Minister Shane Reti says legislation he introduced into Parliament this year to disestablish the Māori Health Authority was needed.
“This infant needed to get up on its feet and start walking and it didn’t in that short time.
“What is happening here is that we’re just disestablishing the Māori Health Authority and showing those parts of the legislation that will remain.
“You’ll see this through the legislation that there are parts of Pae Ora which I have retained, like the whole of the Maōri Advisory Committee, for example, whose counsel I have found wise to date already.”
