Whānau Voice - Issue 1
The Whānau Voice Report compiles insights from whānau, hapū, and iwi within our IMPB area, along with feedback from Hauora Māori service providers. This collaborative effort aims to capture the experiences, views, and health needs of whānau, informing the Te Taura Ora o Waiariki IMPB ‘Hauora Māori Priorities Report’ (HMPR). Supported by Te Whatu Ora, we also engaged with various mainstream providers to gather this valuable information.
The report therefore presents data from meetings and hui held in 2024, with both mainstream and Hauora Māori providers. Feedback from these gatherings, along with insights from hapū and community events and other hui, was analysed to explore broader health service experiences.
Through thematic analysis, we identified key issues such as access, cost, and cultural barriers. Specific participant quotes enrich the report, highlighting the voices of whānau and guiding intentional actions to improve health services.
To download the PDF, click on the three dots ⋯ and select “Download PDF File.”
We need a significantly scaled-up Māori health workforce
Lauren James is co-chair of Te Taura Ora o Waiariki IMPB, the legislated Iwi Māori Partnership Board for the Rotorua area.
OPINION: It’s clear that our health system is in crisis, and Māori will feel the impact more than other parts of the population.
Māori experience a stark health disparity, with an average lifespan seven years shorter than non-Māori; face a cardiovascular disease death rate twice as high; see their tamariki suffering a mortality rate one-and-a-half times that of non-Māori children; and are disproportionately diagnosed and die from cancer.
The evidence tells us that high need and Māori sit hand in hand in this country. The current status quo doesn’t work for us; quite the contrary, it kills us!
Iwi Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs) were stood up as part of the government response to Wai 2575 (Waitangi Tribunal Health Services and Outcomes Inquiry) and the Simpson Report (Health and Disability System Review), to address the glaring disparities that Maori faced in health and wellbeing.
Yet while the intent of the Government for these IMPBs and now disestablished Te Aka Whai Ora (Māori Health Authority) was honourable, the execution was poor. The entities’ efforts have been underfunded, under-resourced, and burdened by unrealistic expectations.
The resourcing for IMPBs felt like little more than tokenism at best, and blatant inequity at worst – yet two years since our establishment, and despite a change in government, we remain standing.
Not only are we still here, but against all odds, IMPBs have created Community Health Plans that reflect our most cherished taonga—the voices of our whānau and locality data.
They are boldly advocating for long-term, evergreen contracts to sustain our backbone of Māori health providers, striving to strike a principled balance between the needs of our people and the demands of government. I believe both can be achieved.
We are flexible, agile, and ready to challenge the system, pushing for bold, innovative solutions that prioritise social value over financial gain.
IMPBs are only a small part of the health system, but like all good things that come in tiny packages, we are dynamic, explosive and already punching well above our weight.
We should be encouraged by what our 15 IMPBs have achieved in record time. Minister Reti set a deadline in July for our plans, and most of them have been delivered. Now we wait for the official response.
Currently our Māori health providers’ contracts have been rolled over to June next year only, experiencing their own budget forecasting uncertainty in the context of a billion-dollar deficit in Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand.
Advocating for greater investment in Māori health providers is critical, especially when it’s claimed that Māori prefer mainstream providers. How can we speak of choice when only 2% of health funding goes to Māori providers, yet the demand by our people is massive? This minimal investment strips people of genuine choice, leaving them with few alternatives in the care they can access.
Some, like our whaikaha (disabled) whānau, are particularly underserved as seen in the evidence filed in Wai 2575. This is due to the way the system allocates contracts to the huge players who dominate procurement, which perpetuates ongoing inequity.
We need a significantly scaled-up Māori health workforce – our doctors, nurses, midwives, lead maternity carers, allied health professionals, non-clinical staff, and even the cleaners – everyone who serves our communities. We need more of them, and we need them now.
What sets IMPBs apart is our accountability to whānau, hapū, iwi, and communities; we serve them first and foremost. Their voices make it clear: we can’t afford to wait for the system to change, especially when whānau pass away while waiting in emergency departments.
This reality shows us that the system is in crisis. As we’re continually reminded of the health system’s financial struggles, let’s not forget that health should never be about profit; it must be about people and whānau. We recognise that we can’t do this alone, but being comfortable to share safe space together and have honest conversations about what we can all do better is a great place to start.
IMPBs across the country are eager to engage in conversations with all branches of government, from health to housing. We understand that health alone cannot deliver the answers to whānau wellbeing. Let us unite to strengthen whānau, hapū, iwi, and communities together.
Original Article posted on the Sunday StarTimes: https://www.thepost.co.nz/wellbeing/350447368/we-need-significantly-scaled-maori-health-workforce
Health Profile - Volume 2
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Health Profile - Volume 1
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History of Māori Health Planning
This is a position paper that documents the development and implementation of Māori health plans over the past 40 years.
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Community Health Plan
Our Community Health Plan was submitted by our IMPB on 30 September 2024 in readiness to commence the formalised role as strategic commissioners from January 2025. Our Community Health Plan describes the work undertaken to date to stand up the core functions of our IMPB namely – Operations, commencing Community and Whānau Engagement , Data Analytics, and Planning. As we continue to “power up” to meet our legislated responsibilities under the Pae Ora Act 2022, we have developed a 3 Year Workplan 2025 -2027 that will see us continue our engagement with whānau in our rohe and will also focus on – Service development and planning; Strategic procurement; Innovation; Policy Development; System improvement; Partnerships; Local intelligence and monitoring.
To download the PDF, click on the three dots ⋯ and select “Download PDF File.”
Hauora Māori Priorities Summary Report
Our Hauora Māori Priorities Report is an initial step towards understanding the current state of health services and whānau experiences of health service delivery in our rohe. Our Board met together in a full day workshop to work through the findings of the analysis and to determine priorities, guided by the voices of whānau captured in the report. This is work that we will continue to repeat over time as the data from the health system improves, and as we continue to gather specific whānau voice information about the health system. To drive health system change, our role is to utilise and share our Hauora Māori Priorities Reports to collaborate with Te Whatu Ora | Health NZ to address the priorities for Hauora Māori as we work toward achieving high quality community led culturally responsive health care in Te Taura Ora o Waiariki rohe. Key mechanisms for recognition of our priorities are a) embedding the IMPB priorities in the Regional Health and Wellness Plan for Te Manawa Taki as this drives the regional work programme of leaders and their teams within Te Whatu Ora | Health NZ and b) working together at regular session such as the monthly Regional Integration Team (RIT) hui, which involves senior leaders responsible for key parts of the system, noting IMPB Executives are active participants in these working sessions.
To download the PDF, click on the three dots ⋯ and select “Download PDF File.”
Iwi Māori Partnership Boards Unite in Whakatāne to Lead Regional Health Planning
Iwi Māori Partnership Boards Unite in Whakatāne to Lead Regional Health Planning: Unveiling Community Health Plans & Hauora Māori Priorities
A third of the Iwi Māori Partnership Boards including five from the Te Manawa Taki region have united in Whakatāne to present their Community Health Plans to government officials, fulfilling their legislated function on behalf of Iwi, hapū, and whānau.
As part of the reset of Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, Newly appointed Deputy CE and Regional Director, Catherine Cronin received the Community Health Plans and Hauora Māori Priority Reports highlighting Whānau Voices.
This information was gathered from whānau, hapū and hapori to shape individual IMPB priorities and consolidated into regional priorities to tackle the ‘grim picture’[1] of the state of Māori-health.
“The purpose of our collective is to mahi tahi – to work together- to achieve the health and wellness aspirations of our whānau,” said Kataraina Hodge, Co-Chair of Te Tiratū IMPB.
Collectively, the 6 boards serve a combined Māori population of 285,560.
“Our role is not only integral, but fundamental to the success of Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and the system’s responsiveness to Māori health needs,” said Louisa Wall, Chair of Tūwharetoa IMPB.
The IMPB are responsible for assessing, monitoring, planning and represent local Māori perspectives on the design and delivery of services and public health interventions within localities.[2]
Their shared priorities focus on public and population health, primary and community care, hospital and specialist services and priorities, workforce, data and funding appropriation for a redesigned delivery model.
“We are all experiencing the same levels of high health need for our whānau so the strategic emphasis into the prevention and health promotion space is essential to make meaningful progress,” Hodge said.
Each IMPB collected the voices of whānau through workshops and surveys, blending these insights with data from Te Whatu Ora and Primary Health Organisations to develop comprehensive, evidenced-based reports for each rohe.
This effort upholds the IMPB’s statutory responsibility in their relevant localities.
The Boards have aligned around regional strategies and delivered all key documents within Minister Reti’s expected timelines—most significantly, meeting the 30 September deadline to be ready for co-commissioning opportunities from 1 January 2025.
“Today is another important milestone in achieving our moemoeā (vision) for our whānau. We are actively participating in shaping regional health priorities that we expect will influence funding based on need ahead of the 2025 Budget,” said Aroha Morgan, Co-Chair of Te Taura Ora o Waiariki IMPB.
One critical task ahead is addressing the status of legacy contracts for Māori Providers – to maintain continuity and capacity in the system – which have been extended until 30 June next year.
“We strongly advocate for evergreen contracts for our providers, given the urgent state of our health needs. At every opportunity, we’ve made it clear to politicians and officials: contracts for Māori health providers must be extended and prioritised,” said Rutu Maxwell-Swinton, Co-Chair of Te Moana a Toi IMPB.
The hui was hosted at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, a Ngāti Awa-founded tertiary provider known for its essential role in training and developing the Hauora Māori workforce. The Boards expressed deep appreciation to the Wānanga for providing the venue for this important briefing.
“Since our establishment, we’ve been following our statutory responsibilities to ensure that we have robust governance structures and operational capability,” one Board member explained.
“We’ve had to set up charitable trusts and ensure that trustees represent iwi and mātāwaka organisations from each rohe, which is no small task.”
The IMPBs have collaborated with Te Whatu Ora and Manatū Hauora navigating changes in legislation, leadership, and planning approaches during the transition to a new coalition government.
“We’ve seen a shift from Locality Plans to Community Health Plans. It wasn’t until July this year that we had clarity on the new Minister’s expectations—before that, we were operating under Labour’s directives,” said Hone Te Rire, incoming Co-Chair of Te Moana a Toi IMPB.
The independent analysis aligns with key government priorities, reflecting a shared commitment to achieving mutual goals.
“It’s a great day for us but it’s got to be taken seriously, I was here 35 years ago and not a lot has changed in Māori health,” said Te Pahunga Davis Chair of Te Punangaora IMPB.
“I live in hope that we can make a difference that we can measure. With that I support our pukapuka being placed into the kete but we’ll be watching you, or we aren’t doing our job.”
The rōpū has heard “loud and clear” the consistent message from whānau about Hauora Māori that mirrors what’s been happening over the last 40 years societally that has led to more highly, complex comorbidities.
“Nothing’s really changed. Now we’re living in a climate of household stress, whether that be income, unhealthy homes, violence, lack of job security – all those determinants of health have doubled down on our people over this last decade especially,” said Davis.
Beyond forming the Iwi Māori Partnership Boards and underpinning flax-roots efforts, there is a shared belief that true solutions lie in our vibrant young Māori demographic, now 978,246 strong according to the 2023 Census.[3]
“Our emerging next generation bring an inspiring energy and a sense of hopefulness for the future. For us ultimately that’s going to play a pivotal part in the shift for addressing health inequities.”
[1] Refer: Pg 53 & 54 Waitangi Tribunal Hauora Report 2019 – like the gap in life expectancy at birth between Māori and non-Māori is 7.3 years for males and 6.8 years for females.
[2] Refer: Section 29 Pae Ora Act 2022 https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2022/0030/latest/LMS659229.html
[3] Refer: https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/2023-census-population-counts-by-ethnic-group-age-and-maori-descent-and-dwelling-counts/#:~:text=In%20the%202023%20Census%3A,from%2018.5%20percent%20in%202018
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Media Liaison: Sarah Sparks Email: Sarah.sparks@sparksconsulting.co.nz Mobile: 021318813
Background:
The collective of Iwi Māori Partnership Boards that in the Te Manawa Taki region are:
- Te Taura Ora o Waiariki IMPB (Te Arawa)
- Te Tiratū IMPB (Tainui Waka, Ngāti Haua & Mātāwaka)
- Te Moana a Toi IMPB (Bay of Plenty)
- Tūwharetoa IMPB
- Te Pūnanga Ora IMPB (Taranaki)
- Toitu Tairawhiti IMPB (Tairawhiti)
GALLERY OF THE HUI
