Fair Funding for Maori & Iwi Primary Health

Media Release:

Fair Funding for Maori & Iwi Primary Health

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is calling on the government to address the serious inequity of public funding in primary health.

Maori and Iwi providers of primary health care are funded at significantly lower rates than their mainstream counterparts. “The impact of this funding has real consequences on the health outcomes for our Maori community as these employers struggle to attract and retain staff,” said NZNO chief executive officer Geoff Annals.

NZNO are pleased to have the opportunity to raise these issues with the health select committee as a result of the petition signed by over 11,000 people and presented to parliament in May 2008. It has taken a long time for us to get to this point and we are confident that the government will address the currently inequitable funding arrangement.

NZNO and 60 Maori and iwi providers have reached agreement in principle on a MECA delivering pay parity but additional funding is essential to achieving this. The collaboration based on Tikanga and partnership between the employers and NZNO is to be celebrated.

"We come to government as a united voice, something we believe deserves recognition. There is no dispute between NZNO members and employers – we know what needs to be done to improve health outcomes for Maori and that is fair funding,”

“Improving health outcomes for some of our communities most at risk is a priority and it can be achieved though healthcare professionals being attracted and then remaining in the sector,” Annals said.

ENDS

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