June 23, 2022
Health research
An independent Māori-led research team has been awarded $1.5 million by the Ministry of Health and Health Research Council of New Zealand to track the implementation and progress of the government’s five-year Whakamaua Māori Health Action Plan.
Co-lead researcher, Dr Lis Ellison-Loschmann says it’s a unique opportunity to provide real-time research on an important policy initiative.
She says while equitable health outcomes for all New Zealanders is an explicit goal of the New Zealand health and disability system, significant inequities between Māori and non-Māori still exist at every age.
“We will evaluate the role of Whakamaua in contributing to pae ora across the life course, an approach that resonates with Māori understandings of health and recognises the importance of intersectoral commitment to address health inequities,” Dr Ellison-Loschmann says.
“It is well documented that differential access to healthcare services, as well as very different education, employment, income and housing opportunities compared with non-Māori, contribute to major systemic factors which have ongoing impacts on Māori health and wellbeing.”