Waitangi Tribunal hears new plan to improve Māori Health

RNZ News

5 days ago

Lady Tureiti Moxon.
Photo:
Supplied / Murdoch Ngahau
Māori health leaders want the Waitangi Tribunal to recommend establishing a "new whare" to replace the short-lived, Te Aka Whai Ora, Māori Health Authortiy.
Māori health stalwarts and inquiry claimants Lady Tureiti Moxon and Janice Kuka presented evidence to the Tribunal as part of its weeklong inquiry into what will replace the now Te Aka Whai Ora.
On Wednesday, Deputy Director General of Health Māori John Whaanga
presented evidence
on behalf of the Crown but could not tell the Tribunal what would replace it.
However, he defended the Ministry of Health's on-going work to improve Māori health and said that work would continue, irrespective of the Māori Health Authority's existence.
Roimata Smail, who represents Lady Tureiti Moxon and Janice Kuka, told the Tribunal that based on the evidence submitted, the Crown had no plan to replace the Te Aka Whai Ora.
Counsel also argued the ongoing claim that a single document, the Hauora Māori Strategy, could make a difference and be relevant as the alternative to Te Aka Whai Ora was indefensible and disrespectful.
In their closing submission document given to the Tribunal, Smail said Māori health providers deliver excellent services despite limited support and that Māori want to control the funding of a system designed by and for Māori, the "new whare".
"The claimants are saying 'we'll look after ourselves first, we're tired of propping up the Crown in trying to meet its Treaty obligations… we will be independent, and we will make sure that we're doing our job right, we will monitor.'" Smail told the Tribunal.
The document outlines how the "new whare" would be completely designed and monitored by Māori, in contrast to Te Aka Whai Ora and the Iwi Māori Partnership Boards, which were designed by the Crown.
It also outlines how the funds "hoarded" by the Crown to administer Māori health should be given to Māori.