Research Snippet:
- The Ministry of Health has released its Briefing to the Incoming Minister of Health, which was written in January for Minister Simeon Brown. Amongst many other items Minister Brown is advised on Māori health matters. Some text in this area is withheld, on future plans following the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority, but in the main the advice is that a special focus on Māori health remains important. The key extract being:
“Achieving the Government’s targets and expectations for health requires significant shifts in Māori health outcomes, achieved by improving how the health system partners with Māori to understand and respond to Māori health need. Māori life expectancy is increasing at a faster rate than other populations. However, the increase is not fast enough to reach the life expectancy of other population in the next 20 years. As a consequence of living longer and developing long-term conditions earlier, more Māori will be living longer with health complications. (Underlining added.)
The Government has stated an intent to shift decision-making around resources closer to people and communities, enabling local leadership, collaboration, and innovation to meet needs. This is reinforced with a continued focus on Māori health monitoring at all levels of the system. The Hauora Māori Advisory Committee and Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards are key mechanisms for monitoring system performance for Māori health and identifying opportunities for improvement.”
https://www.health.govt.nz/publications/briefing-to-the-incoming-minister-of-health-january-2025
Parliamentary Matters:
- This week the Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka, is being criticised by his political opponents for seemingly being unaware new resource management laws may not have a Treaty of Waitangi protection clause. We intend to review that proposed legislation in the next quarter, once more materials are available.
Salient Māori News Items to 28 March 2025:
- The Representation Commission has released proposed new electoral boundaries. No new Māori seats are proposed. One shift in Māori seat boundaries is proposed: namely parts of the Hutt Valley being moved from the Te Tai Tonga to Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, to maintain relativity in terms of population sizes. Consultation is now open, refer to the link below.
