He Korowai Oranga Māori Health Strategy

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

page 4 of 14

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Three key threads

Three key threads, or themes, are woven throughout the strategy.

Rangatiratanga

He Korowai Oranga acknowledges whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori aspirations for rangatiratanga to have control over the direction and shape of their own institutions, communities and development as a people.

Involving iwi in decision-making as representatives and as partners ensures that new directions fit with the wider development goals. Continuing Māori provider development and Māori workforce development allows health initiatives to contribute to whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori community initiatives. These aims are in the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000.

The Government has also supported moves to strengthen the capability of Māori communities to develop initiatives that meet their needs across the social, cultural and economic sectors. These initiatives will begin to drive changes for the health and disability sector.

Building on the gains

He Korowai Oranga builds on the considerable gains already made in Māori health.

Past policies have established a base for gains in Māori and whānau ora outcomes, service uptake and Māori participation throughout the health and disability sector. Major gains in Māori provider and workforce development have strengthened Māori infrastructure and leadership.

Māori Development Organisations (MDOs) have, for example, emerged alongside Māori co-funding organisations (MAPOs) and Māori provider and professional organisations, to play a critical role in the effective delivery of health and disability services for Māori.

The Ministry of Health, DHBs, and other health and disability agencies have a responsibility to maintain these gains and to build on them.

Reducing inequalities

Reducing inequalities in health and disability outcomes and improving access to services is a thread that weaves throughout this strategy. In implementing service changes, it is critical that the changes are assessed to ensure that they will contribute to reducing inequalities and not increase inequalities.

These disparities in health status reflect broader socioeconomic inequalities experienced by Māori and create a challenge for the Government, the health sector and other sectors.

Reducing inequalities in health also requires a focus on identifying priorities where a difference can be made. Population health objectives have been dentified. DHBs will need to assess the health needs of their region (recognising that Māori may have different needs), identify service coverage and areas that need to be strengthened or modified over time.

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