Will Māori health equity see progress?

Gideon Porter Hagen Tautari | Will Māori health equity see progress?

Download Audio

The co-chair of what will be one of the largest of fifteen IMPBs— or Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards—says, “The proof will be in the pudding” when it comes to whether the regional health bodies will receive adequate government support to address dire Māori health inequities.

Hagen Tautari co-chairs the greater Tainui Waka IMPB, Te Tiratū, which will cater to close to 115,000 Māori in its catchment.

He says that during a time of sweeping health system transformation and government demands for health budget cuts, he is at least pleased that Health Minister Reti seems committed to making things work.

“But you know I’m old enough to realise that the proof is in the pudding, and we’ll see what comes out of it.. you know I’m very mindful of what an election cycle means, so we will do the best we can to advocate for our people – and the chips will fall wherever they fall after that,” says Tautari.

Hagen Tautari says one of the first issues to address is the fact that 75% of Māori health funding currently flows through mainstream providers.

RELATED NEWS

Ngai Tahu develops people for land Peters backs kiwi housing vision Primary school kapa haka building communities