April 03, 2023
Reti challenged to defend Māori health cut
Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall says the government is committed to the Māori Health Authority and she’s challenging National’s health spokesman Shane Reti to come up with something better.
Supporter says Te Aka Whai Ora is developing services in a way that is culturally appropriate and effective for Māori – where in the past the mainstream health system has been found wanting.
Dr Verrall says Dr Reti has made it clear that under National it will be scrapped.
“I am really committed to it, and committed to seeing it succeed. It’s for Dr Reti to explain how he can justify scrapping Te Aka Whai Ora, and I think he’s got a very hard road to do that. And I’ll be making it very clear to the community, at the elections, ‘here’s what the impact of that will be,'” she says.
Dr Verrall says it’s time for transformational change – but National wants to fold Māori healthcare back under a mainstream system that has failed Māori.