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Download AudioNational’s Health spokesperson Shane Reti says an independent report into the first year of Te Aka Whai Ora has revealed failure from all corners of what he says is an unnecessary bureacracy.
He says the report found no overarching plan for activities, timeframes, resources, accountability or performance within the Māori Health Authority.
It also revealed staff were transferred from Health NZ Te Whatu Ora because of their ethnicity rather than having necessary skills and expertise.
He say National will dissolve the Māori Health Authority and have a strong Māori health directorate inside the Ministry of Health with clear targets and real leadership.
Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare says while the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee did raise some concerns, the overall direction was positive.
“We always knew that when we started building this whare it was going to take time and in fact we said it would take a minimum of three years to bed in a lot of the changes we have made and I am satisfied with the leadership we have and the chief executive and the many skill sets we have across Te Aka Whai Ora and its board we have the right mix of skills that can take us forward into the future,” he says.
Minister Henare says Te Aka Whai Ora is keeping focused on its mahi rather than the election ax hanging over it.
