December 21, 2023
Treaty partner ignored in Māori health chop
Claimants against plans to disestablish Te Aka Whai Ora say the crown has acknowledged it was all about winning the October election, and it hasn’t consulted Māori according to the principles of Te Tiriti.
Lady Tureiti Moxon and Janice Kuka say the response filed in the Waitangi Tribunal says the crown currently has no alternative plan to address poor Māori outcomes.
Lady Tureiti, who’s the manager of Kirikiriroa’s Te Kōhao Health and chair of the National Urban Māori Authority, says it is a blatant disregard of the principles of Te Tiriti and the work of the Waitangi Tribunal, whose recommendation in the Maori Health Services Claim led to the formation of the Māori Health Authority,
In its filing, the Crown admitted that its intention to promote legislation to disestablish was not the product of a policy process.
No evidence was provided the proposed health restructure will improve Māori health outcomes.
Lady Tureiti and Ms Kuka say they have already seen the positive impact of Te Aka Whai Ora in their respective health services that meet the needs of tens of thousands of whānau Māori.