Iwi Māori partnership boards unite to oppose changes to health legislation

1News

6 days ago

Iwi Māori partnership boards (IMPBs) from across the country are making a unified stand against proposed policy changes they say will reduce their statutory role in the health system.
The fifteen boards are meeting in New Plymouth for the first time since the first reading of the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill.
They say their monitoring powers are critical to ensuring health services are accountable to Māori communities and responsive to local needs.
The hui aims to 'build a unified national voice' in response to the proposed changes, according to host IMPB Te Punanga Ora. They refer to Article 2 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi that guarantees tino rangatiratanga.
'These changes take us from active partners to passive recipients - a shift that undermines the partnership foundations built over decades,' said Hiria Te Paki, pou whakahaere. 'Telling us after the fact is not consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.'
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IMPBs were established under the Act in 2022 to ensure the health needs and priorities of Māori communities are met.
'This move silences our voices and severs a critical connection between Māori communities and the health system,' said Te Paki.
'Māori are still dying, on average, seven years younger than non-Māori. Diluting our leadership and input will only deepen these inequities.'
Chair of the Tūwharetoa Iwi Māori Partnership Board and former Labour MP Louisa Wall said initially IMPBs were created as a solution to assist the government to address inequities within the health system.
'So the latest iteration of changes is to diminish our role, but we are servants of our people. All of us have mandate from hapū and iwi to represent our whānau voices so we will continue to do that in spite of this government.'
Louisa Wall (Source: Te Karere)
The IMPBs represent more than 900,000 Māori. Wall said the biggest problem Māori face with the health system is primary intervention – engaging earlier and 'not at the hospital'.
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'[The health system is] inefficient because our people are engaging far too late and the reason iwi Māori partnership boards were formed in the first place was to make access – and early access – possible, and that's what we've all been focused on.'
She said in undermining the role of IMPBs, the government has undermined the whole health system.
'They're almost cutting off their nose to spite their face, and that's the ridiculous part of what they're doing, and the most disappointing, is that we're just starting to get traction and make a real difference and ensure that patients are at the centre of our health system.'
She said they had 'stunning' relationships with previous Health Ministers Dr Shane Reti and Peeni Henare but have yet to meet with Minister Simeon Brown.
'It's appalling behaviour for partners in a system that put patients first, and so this government's really clear that they want to do that but through their actions they've actually contradicted the whole ethos of the changes that they're proposing.'
Health Minister Brown said his priority is ensuring all New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare and the government is committed to delivering services based on need.
He said he recognised that different approaches are required to effectively reach and support communities.
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'As part of this, we are enhancing the role of the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC), which will provide independent advice to both me and the board of Health New Zealand.
'Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs) will play a key role in this approach by engaging with their communities and sharing local insights with HMAC. This advice will inform decision-making made by myself and the Health New Zealand board.'
He said the changes have been welcomed by the Āti Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board as well as HMAC who has expressed its support.
The Minister announced in June the proposed changes to the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 and the amendment bill passed its first reading in July.
Public submissions on the bill close on August 18.