April 24, 2023
Stomach staple gives Waititi new lease on life
Māori party co-leader Rawiri Waititi says a stomach bypass has improved his life.
He underwent the procedure to reduce the risk from a hereditary heart condition.
Health insurance covered the $24,000 cost, but he says that shouldn’t determine who can get it.
“The Government needs to now start looking at how we can fund people if it’s life-saving. I believe it’s done that for myself, it’s added years on to my life, but the Government needs to look at it for those and especially our Māori people who may have some of these illnesses that will be life saving so we shouldn’t be living shorter livers because we can’t afford the bypass,” Mr Waititi says.