June 14, 2017
Maori minister drops poi on home town health
Labour's Maori development spokesperson Kelvin Davis says the Maori Party have dropped the poi when it comes to supporting Ngati Whakaue and Maori interests in the Bay of Plenty.
The iwi today marched up Pukeroa hill to Rotorua Hospital to demand the reinstatement of Te Hunga Manaaki, the service it has run for 20 years supporting Maori patients and providing cultural connections with hospital staff.
Lakes District Health Board axed the contract and said it would be replaced with a wider whanau ora service.
Mr Davis the DHB is having to restrict what services they offer because of the Government's $2.3 billion shortfall in health funding.
Labour's health policy includes lowering doctor's charges, providing more operations, better cancer medicine and easier access to mental health services.
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