With the impending launch of the COVID immunisation programme in Aotearoa, it is critical to note that Māori have been
poorly served by past immunisation programmes such as measles and influenza1. These challenges are further compounded
considering that both Māori and Pasifika are the populations most at risk in regard to COVID2. This is in terms of
exposure to the virus, and being more likely to experience worse outcomes from a COVID infection due to existing
co-morbidities. The COVID immunisation programme provides the NZ Government with the opportunity to demonstrate its
commitment to hauora Māori (Māori wellbeing).
This opportunity is to create an immunisation response that benefits all Māori. Previous immunisation programmes have
failed Māori, not from a technical aspect in terms of administering a vaccine, but because they have not empowered
whānau Māori to make decisions themselves.
Already lessons learned from other international COVID immunisation programmes are highlighting equity as a factor for
success. Alaska is credited with running the most effective COVID vaccination roll out of all states in the USA3 as they
have designed their strategy to work in partnership with the 229 sovereign tribes, who better know their communities and
can make sure even the most far-flung residents don’t slip through the cracks. Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Anne
Zink, says that “empowering communities, giving them the tools and resources to do it in the way that they know how to
do is often times faster and more efficient and is done in a way that makes sense for that community.”
National Hauora Coalition (NHC), as part of the newly formed WERO Hauora Immunisation Alliance, strongly endorses and
advocates for the work underway by this alliance and their development of a Māori-led national COVID vaccination and
immunisation plan, which is intended to be delivered through existing strong regional/local bodies such as iwi, whānau
ora commissioning agencies and other Hauora Māori providers. Using existing Māori social structures that are already in
place (i.e., iwi, hapū, mataawaka and marae), to ensure that whānau and hapori Māori are well informed, will not only
increase COVID immunisation uptake but have wider benefits. As Simon Royal, NHC CEO, notes “Māori leadership of the
programme for our own communities will give whānau a sense of empowerment and understanding which will have flow-on
benefits for other immunisation programmes such as measles and influenza”.
Mr Royal continued that there are other potential far reaching positive impacts for hauora Māori beyond the immediate
COVID immunisation programme. “We have the opportunity to incorporate mātauranga Māori practices into the mainstream
immunisation programme so that it allows whānau Māori to have broader choices about where they can be immunised. We also
have the opportunity to increase Māori and Pasifika representation in our health workforce by broadening the range of
immunisation roles non-regulated health workers can perform”.
Mr Royal’s final comments emphasised that “we need a COVID immunisation programme that serves all Māori, irrespective of
where they live, so we don’t leave any Māori community behind. This is our opportunity to show what the future can look
like, today”.