He Korowai Oranga Māori Health Strategy

He Korowai Oranga - Māori Health Strategy
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Date of Publication: November 2002

page 3 of 14

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Directions

He Korowai Oranga recognises that both Māori and the Government have aspirations for Māori health and critical roles in achieving the desired whānau outcomes. He Korowai Oranga also recognises that there must be partnership between Māori and health and disability organisations if those aspirations are to be realised. The two broad directions of He Korowai Oranga acknowledge this partnership.

Direction One:
Māori Aspirations and Contributions

He Korowai Oranga acknowledges the contributions that Māori have made in leading health sector change, and a major focus of the strategy will be to strengthen opportunities for whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori communities to contribute in the future.

He Korowai Oranga supports whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori community aspirations to have more control over their own health and wellbeing. It upholds the structures based around whānau, hapū and iwi. It also recognises that there are a range of other community groups in Māori society that make valuable contributions to the advancement of whānau ora.

The new health structures encourage Māori to determine their own aspirations and priorities for health and disability, and provide mechanisms for ensuring these are taken into account in the planning and delivery of services. DHBs will involve Māori in their decision-making and service delivery and will support effective Māori involvement.

Direction Two:
Government Aspirations and Contributions

As well as supporting Māori to achieve their aspirations for health and disability support, the Government is also committed to reducing the health inequalities that exist between Māori and other New Zealanders through effective partnerships with Māori and active Māori involvement in the sector. DHBs will be the key agents in achieving these aspirations.

A further Government aspiration is to ensure accessible and appropriate services for Māori. DHBs will address the access barriers that exist for many Māori: cost; availability of quality; culturally appropriate services; travel; referral patterns for major operations; the way outpatient services are organised; and the assumptions health professionals make about the behaviour of Māori.

The Government is also conscious of the impact of its broader social and economic policies on the health and wellbeing of Māori. Increasingly, government agencies are co-ordinating their efforts across sectors to address the social determinants of health more effectively.

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