National says it would stop funding Maori therapists

Tony Ryall

A National-led government would be unlikely to continue funding traditional Maori therapists using unproven remedies, says the party's health spokesman, Tony Ryall.

Maori healers using therapies that include prayer, seawater and greenstone received $1.3 million a year from the Ministry of Health, although there was no proof the remedies worked, the Sunday Star-Times reported yesterday.

Mr Ryall said his party supported Maori health providers, but he questioned the funding for unproven remedies.

"There's nothing wrong with alternative therapies but the taxpayer shouldn't be expected to foot the bill," he said.

"In terms of the alternative healing mentioned in the report, I think it's highly unlikely that would continue under National."

Mr Ryall said his party worked on the principle that medicine should be proven and that policies should be colour-blind. He said next the Government would be funding colour therapy.

 

The newspaper report quoted the ministry as saying it had been funding the traditional therapy providers since 2000.

"Traditional healers incorporate the spiritual dimension in assessment and therapy, and do so in a culturally relevant way," a ministry official said.

- NZPA