The National Hauora Coalition says the new Māori Health Authority board has a big task ahead of it to secure a true treaty partnership.

Chief executive Simon Royal says detailed policy work and legislative will be needed to ensure the body has enough resources to do its job, and that it can make its influence felt.

“The Māori Health Authority will not be solely responsible for health equity and for the treaty. It will require the Ministry of Health to continue in its policy function to advocate for equity for health outcomes for Māori as well as importantly Health New Zealand which will be a large institution replacing the over district health boards and taking over all those contracting and funding roles,” he says.

Mr Royal says district health boards have done their dash, but the new centralised Health New Zealand will also fail to deliver equity for Māori if it does not have a solid plan, the right skills and committed leadership.