Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua says it will continue to hold New Zealand’s health system accountable for delivering equitable outcomes for Māori, despite the passing of the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill through Parliament.
The Iwi Māori Partnership Board says the new legislation does not change its statutory mandate or diminish its commitment to advocating for whānau Māori across the MidCentral rohe. Instead, it says the reforms reinforce the importance of independent monitoring and ensuring the health system remains accountable for addressing persistent inequities.
Te Pae Oranga represents Māori communities across Horowhenua, Manawatū District, Palmerston North, Tararua and Ōtaki. Established under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, the board has responsibility for assessing Māori health needs, monitoring health system performance and providing advice on priorities to improve hauora outcomes.
The organisation recently released a series of monitoring reports examining primary and community healthcare, hospital and specialist services, and public health. Rather than simply describing health inequities, the reports identify system-level issues such as commissioning decisions, service design and resource allocation that continue to contribute to poorer outcomes for Māori.
Te Pae Oranga says it will use those reports as the benchmark for monitoring Health New Zealand’s performance over the coming six months. Progress against the expectations outlined in the reports will be publicly tracked, with updates provided on actions taken and whether measurable improvements are being achieved.
The board says meaningful progress will require transparency, partnership and sustained commitment across the health sector. It believes accountability must extend beyond policy statements to include measurable improvements in access to services, quality of care and health outcomes for whānau Māori.
The announcement comes as Māori health continues to face significant challenges, including winter pressures on hospitals, workforce shortages and ongoing inequities across chronic disease, mental health and access to primary care.
For Māori communities, the continued role of Iwi Māori Partnership Boards remains an important mechanism for ensuring the voices of whānau are reflected in health planning and that government agencies remain focused on achieving equity under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Te Pae Oranga says it will continue working alongside health providers, iwi, community organisations and government agencies while maintaining its independent role as a monitor of the health system’s performance and its obligations to Māori.
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