One of the largest iwi Māori partnership boards that provide advice to Whatu Ora about health needs in their areas, Tiratū, says the status quo has to be disrupted, and resources must be directed to where they will have the greatest impact.
Te Whatu Ora officials agree, and have noted 75 per cent of Māori health funding flows through mainstream providers, a balance they wish to address.
Iwi Māori partnership boards ensure Māori voices are heard in decision-making which affect Māori. There are 15 recognised IMPBs in Aotearoa who engage with whānau, hapū, iwi and hapori in their regions. They assess the state of hauora Māori, monitor health sector performance and work with Te Whatu Ora.
Health Minister Shane Reti says after their establishment in 2022, iwi Māori partnership boards have taken a major step as part of the government’s commitment to the health of Māori communities.
Through engagement with local whānau and hapori, the boards have identified specific priorities and actions and created community health plans and visions for health and wellbeing.
Tiratū is among the IMPB to have released their plans, visions and key priorities for the health sector, such as capacity building Māori-led services and the workforce pipeline.
“Receiving these plans is a hugely significant milestone in implementing my long-term vision for Māori health,” Reti says.
“Having all 15 recognised IMPBs on board with their planning marks a pivotal step in ensuring health services identify and act on the actual needs and priorities of Māori communities.”
Reti says the plans are localised instead of bureaucratised, which provides insights to health priorities for different populations, allowing local voices to be heard and integrated into the broader health strategy and help.
“These plans are not just documents. They are living frameworks to guide our efforts to better address specific health challenges faced by Māori communities,” Reti says.
“Their prioritisation of local needs means agencies can take meaningful steps toward reducing actual health inequities.”
From here IMPB, Te Whatu Ora, and the Ministry of Health will work to finalise plans to begin implementation in three to five years. Once finalised, the community health plans will be published on the IMPB and Health New Zealand websites.
