5 October 2018 – 9am release
Te Rau Matatini Advocating for the Māori Voice in the Mental Health And Addiction Inquiry Report
Whilst groups across New Zealand prepare for Mental Health Awareness Week (8–14 October 2018), many people are awaiting
in anticipation the release of the Government’s Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction Report and its key findings.
With Māori mental health and addiction having wide-reaching challenges, there is a high level of concern from Māori
about whether the courage for the transformational changes to improve Māori wellbeing will indeed be articulated clearly
in the final report.
Given the Coalition’s Government election promises of open government and transparency, Te Rau Matatini are hoping that
there will be no restrictions imposed on access to the information that in its due course will influence how the report
is written especially for Māori.
Though the last media statement by the Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry Panel did not acknowledge the two day hui
they had with Māori held in August in Auckland, there is hope that the methodology used to capture the voices of Māori
submissions in this inquiry will not be restricted and will be taken into account authentically, as they have been
expressed, so that Māori can see themselves in the findings and in the recommendations.
For Māori, their mental and emotional wellbeing extends beyond mental health and addiction service delivery, and
considers a broad range of factors, aspirations and solutions.
In the two day hui in Auckland, concerns and recommendations for change were provided to the panel, similarly so by
various Māori across New Zealand who also submitted their thoughts and solutions to the panel.
In recognition of these people, and of those who were unable to express themselves to the panel, whose needs were
instead advocated for by whānau, practitioners and leaders, Te Rau Matatini is ensuring that the Government is reminded
of their obligations to Māori as the treaty partner, to prioritise working beside Māori to ensure their perspectives are
accorded the mana to be heard, and consequently the solutions are determined and led by Māori.
For further information, please view Turuki Turuki! Paneke Paneke! – the report from the hui held with Māori and the
Mental Health Inquiry Panel (August, 2018) http://teraumatatini.com/file/978/download?token=CY0P0-EQ and the Māori
Manifesto http://teraumatatini.com/news/m%C4%81ori-manifesto-framework-change.
ends