Public Consultation To Be Held On The Draft Mäori Health Strategy
The draft Maori Health Strategy He Korowai Oranga was released today. Iwi, Maori communities, health and disability
providers, and those interested, can discuss and comment on it during a series of hui in May.
The Deputy Director-General of Mäori Health, Ria Earp, welcomes the opportunity to take this document, He Korowai
Oranga, to the community to ensure their views and perspectives are included in the final strategy.
"The aim of He Korowai Oranga is whänau ora ? supporting healthy Mäori families. He Korowai Oranga builds on the
framework established by the New Zealand Health Strategy, and on the significant gains in Mäori health made by both
Mäori and government."
"It acknowledges the importance of initiatives to strengthen communities, the need for better coordination across
sectors, improving the quality of health services as well as building on the development of Maori provider and workforce
development."
He Korowai Oranga has been developed in consultation with a sector reference group consisting of Mäori health workers,
consumers and providers from throughout the health and disability sector.
Ria Earp said the Government would work collaboratively with iwi, Mäori communities, District Health Boards and health
and disability sector workers to achieve Mäori health objectives.
"It is a key document relevant to all groups and we welcome your input into its development and direction."
He Korowai Oranga will be developed in two phases. The first phase is a series of consultation hui on the overall
directions, goals and pathways for Mäori health. Phase two is the implementation plan for the strategy.
The nine hui will be held in the following locations on the following dates:
|------------------------------------------------+------------------------
------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Wellington |Te Aroha Sport Complex, Waiwhetu
Marae |2 May | |------------------------------------------------+------------------------
------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Northland |The Park Lodge on Paihia |3 May |
|------------------------------------------------+------------------------
------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Auckland |Waipuna Lodge |4 May |
|------------------------------------------------+------------------------
------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Rotorua |Te Ao Marama |8 May |
|------------------------------------------------+------------------------
------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Hawkes Bay |Kohupatiki Marae |10 May |
|------------------------------------------------+------------------------
------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Wanganui |Putiki Marae |15 May |
|------------------------------------------------+------------------------
------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Nelson |Whakatu Marae |17 May |
|------------------------------------------------+------------------------
------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Invercargill |Murihiku Marae |24 May |
|------------------------------------------------+------------------------
------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Christchurch |Rehua Marae |25 May |
|------------------------------------------------+------------------------
------------------------+------------------------------------------------|
(Note: All hui take place 9am-4pm except in Hawkes Bay where the hui will be 10am-4.30pm).
For a copy of He Korowai Oranga, the Mäori Health Strategy, access the Ministry of Health web site at
www.moh.govt.nz/mhs.html
Media interviews will be possible during hui workshop but MUST be arranged in advance through Ministry of Health Media
Advisors.
Ends
Questions and Answers: Maori Health Strategy
What is this document? He Korowai Oranga, Maori Health Strategy, is a discussion document that identifies some of the
key issues to be addressed to support whanau to achieve health and wellbeing.
What is the aim of this document? He Korowai Oranga, Maori Health Strategy, provides guidelines for the improvement of
whanau health outcomes. As a discussion document it will provide the starting point for health providers, the Maori
community, District Health Boards, health and disability organisations and individuals to contribute to the final the
strategy.
How was the strategy developed? He Korowai Oranga was produced by the Ministry of Health with the input of a Sector
Reference Group and a Focus Group made up of Maori health workers, users of health services, and providers from
different parts of the health and disability sector.
How does it relate to the New Zealand Health Strategy? The New Zealand Health Strategy was released in December 2000 and
was the Government's platform for action on health. The Maori Health Stratgey takes the goals, objectives and principles
of the New Zealand Health Strategy to the next stage and provides more detail on how Maori health objectives will be
achieved.
What are some of the inequalities between the health of Maori and the health of non-Maori? Although Maori health life
expectancy has improved rapidly over the past 40 years it is still more than eight years lower than that of non-Maori.
Maori also continue to experience a heavier burden of disease and injury than non-Maori. As a population group, Maori
have on average the poorest health status of any group in New Zealand. According to the 1996 census, 54,345 persons were
actively engaged in the health workforce - Maori made up 3,741 or 6.9% of that number.
What is Whanau Ora? Whanau Ora means healthy Maori families supported to achieve their maximum health and wellbeing.
What were some of the practical "next steps" outlined in the strategy towards improving whanau health Build on the
existing gains made in Maori health and continue Maori workforce and Maori provider development Explore ways to deliver
services in new settings appropriate to whanau Develop plans to remove financial, cultural, geographical, physical and
other barriers faced by Maori experiencing disability Establish necessary DHB resources (human, finacial, technological)
to engage Maori communities Promote Maori participation in DHB elections as both candidates and voters Develop policies
for on-the-job Maori community and voluntary worker accreditation Identify barriers and ways to reduce them to Maori
advancing at all levels of the health and disability workforce, especially to senior positions Work with health
workforce training institutions to incorporate Maori health issues into training programmes Put in place complaint
procedures appropriate to Maori Ensure Maori have access to appropriate health and disability information
Where to from here? The final draft of He Korowai Oranga, Maori Health Strategy, is due for completion by December 2001
and will be followed by an implementation plan.