Waitangi Day signifies the promise of a principled partnership between Māori and the Crown – one built on respect, equity, and meaningful collaboration.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is enshrined in our constitutional framework, and it is vital that we acknowledge and uphold its significance. Our tūpuna signed te tiriti in 1840 with a vision of a fair, just and inclusive nation.
Yet, when we look at our health system, the challenges are undeniable: it is broken and failing those it was meant to serve. The current model, which puts financial efficiency above people, is inequitable and unsustainable, a good example being the rollback of a new approach to Māori health.
The axing of Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health Authority last year was one of the most shortsighted moves this government has made. The authority could have been a turning point in health in this country. It was the first true expression of tino rangatiratanga – self determination. It was the first time (and I’ve been in health over 20 years) Māori were able to decide what was good for us, what was the best way forward for us and how resources could be used to improve the health of our communities.
To achieve better health outcomes, we must recalibrate the system to be people-driven, ensuring it serves the needs of all New Zealanders equitably.
Historically, Whānau Ora ‒ the work of the late Dame Tariana Turia ‒ has been a Māori response to the needs of our own people. Created in 2010, the Whānau Ora model supports our people to strengthen themselves and become resilient while at the same time giving them the opportunity to dream about how things might be different and how things might be better. They see their potential in what it is that they can achieve.
I always remember Turia saying whānau will trust themselves only when they have respect for their ability to be able to do what they need to do for themselves. For too long, she said, whānau had to listen to people telling them everything that was wrong with them, so it was only natural they started to believe it.
The moment whānau start to feel confident about making their own health decisions, that is when we see the transformation. What this government has done is destroyed decades of hard work.
Our health response under the 2022 Pae Ora [Healthy Futures] Act hasn’t been given a chance because it’s been made political, instead of prioritising what was right for the people. The government must engage in full consultation and genuine partnership with Māori when shaping policies that affect us all. Te Tiriti o Waitangi must be treated with the respect it deserves, ensuring any legislative changes are developed in collaboration with Māori as true partners.
The recently introduced Regulatory Standards Bill is a stark example of the government’s overreach, raising serious concerns about its potential to consolidate power and shape laws that will have adverse knock-on effects. While the bill seeks to establish principles for lawmaking and governance, it fails to uphold te tiriti and risks undermining hard-won progress in Māori rights, tino rangatiratanga, and mana motuhake.
As a country, we have the power to shape a future that truly honours our commitments to te tiriti, a future that embraces diversity and inclusivity.
Waitangi Day reminds us of the path we must walk together, with a renewed commitment to partnership, equity, and shared prosperity.
Tureiti, Lady Moxon, is managing director of Te Kōhao Health in Kirikiriroa Hamilton and chair of the National Urban Māori Authority.
