Māori health leaders urge Government to back community-led solutions before crisis point
Māori public health organisation Hāpai Te Hauora is calling on the Government to deliver a Budget focused on prevention, resilience and long-term investment into whānau wellbeing as communities across Aotearoa continue facing mounting social and economic pressures.
The organisation says rising living costs, housing insecurity, climate-related disasters and ongoing inequities are pushing many whānau to breaking point, while communities themselves are increasingly being forced to step in and respond where public systems are struggling.
Ahead of Budget 2026, Hāpai Te Hauora is urging the Government to prioritise Māori-led solutions already proving effective within communities rather than relying on short-term funding cycles and crisis-driven responses.
A major focus of the organisation’s recommendations is the protection of pēpi and mokopuna through strengthened national SUDI prevention initiatives.
Hāpai Te Hauora says the earliest stages of life are critical to long-term wellbeing and is calling for comprehensive support during the first 100 sleeps, including safe sleep education, infant health support and whānau wellbeing services.
The organisation also wants universal access to safe sleep spaces such as wahakura, Pēpi-Pods or bassinets alongside trusted kaupapa Māori support services for every whānau.
Additional calls include funded kaupapa Māori antenatal programmes incorporating antenatal education, childbirth preparation and wahakura weaving initiatives grounded in tikanga Māori.
Climate resilience is another major concern highlighted by the organisation following repeated severe weather events affecting Māori communities across the motu.
Hāpai Te Hauora says marae and local communities have repeatedly proven themselves to be frontline responders during emergencies and should receive dedicated funding to strengthen Māori-led climate resilience and emergency preparedness.
The organisation is also calling for increased investment into flood preparedness and recovery support for vulnerable communities exposed to major climate-related events.
Housing and winter wellbeing are also central to the group’s Budget priorities.
Hāpai Te Hauora says warm, dry and healthy homes are essential to improving public health outcomes and warns no whānau should be forced to choose between heating and food.
The organisation is advocating for expanded insulation and heating subsidies, investment into Māori-led housing developments and stronger support for community-based wellbeing hubs offering integrated vaccination, nutrition and energy support services.
It also wants the Government to continue supporting healthy school lunch programmes to ensure tamariki have access to nutritious meals that support learning, development and lifelong health.
Beyond health and housing, Hāpai Te Hauora says Māori communities already know what solutions work best locally but are often undermined by unstable and short-term funding arrangements.
The organisation is calling for long-term funding certainty for Māori-led services so communities can focus on prevention, local decision-making and sustainable planning rather than continually responding to crises.
Hāpai Te Hauora is also seeking stronger investment into community-led strategies aimed at reducing harm from alcohol, gambling, tobacco and unhealthy food environments.
Chief Executive Jacqui Harema says recent years have shown communities are already leading many of the solutions needed to strengthen whānau wellbeing and resilience.
The organisation says Budget 2026 presents an opportunity for the Government to invest earlier, support prevention and back the approaches communities already know are making a difference.
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