Media Release
13 June 2006
Next Māori Health Action Plan Developed
The Ministry of Health is welcoming submissions on Whakatātaka Tuarua - the second Māori Health Action Plan.
This draft action plan follows on from the Whakatātaka Māori Health Action Plan 2002-2005, which describes the actions needed to give effect to the overarching Māori Health Strategy - He Korowai Oranga, launched in November 2002.
Deputy Director General of Māori Health Ria Earp says, "Whakatātaka Tuarua identifies four key areas requiring particular attention. Building quality data and monitoring of Māori health, developing whānau ora based models, improving Māori participation at all levels of the health and disability sector, particularly workforce development and governance, and improving primary health care are all key goals."
Ria Earp says, "We expect Whakatātaka Tuarua will evolve following hui the Ministry is holding around the country later this month and further initiatives may be included after this."
"A number of positive initiatives have been developed since He Korowai Oranga was implemented in 2002 but there are still many challenges for the health and disability sector to improve Māori health outcomes and reduce inequalities."
Some of the achievements from the first Māori health action plan include the development of a Māori Workforce Development Plan, Raranga Tupuake, ethnicity data protocols have also been developed and implemented through an ethnicity data training package for DHBs. The launch of the inaugural Whānau Ora Awards programme in 2004 were also an initiative of the first action plan. The awards recognise innovative initiatives that increase whānau health and well-being.
Ria Earp says, "Many of the actions that have already been initiated under Whakatātaka, the first Māori health action plan, will continue under Whakatātaka Tuarua."
"It's important that iwi, hapū, Māori health providers and health and disability sector groups have their say on this discussion document. We want to consult as widely as possible."
"Thirteen hui are planned over the next two months and four DHB regional hui will be held in July and August. We expect DHBs will add their own initiatives through the consultation process as well as the Ministry identifying areas in their plans where DHBs can add value," says Ria Earp.
She says once the consultation phase ends and submissions have been analysed, the Ministry will refine and finalise the action plan, which will proceed to Cabinet for approval in October 2006.
The Discussion Document and Action Plan is available on the Ministry of Health website
Written submissions should be sent to the Ministry by 5pm, 17 August, 2006.
Postal Address
Gavin Koroi
Ministry of Health
PO Box 5013
Wellington
Email: Gavin_Koroi@moh.govt.nz
Question and Answer Sheet
Whakatātaka Tuarua, Second Māori Health Action Plan 2006-2011
1. How was Whakatātaka Tuarua developed?
The development of Whakatataka Tuarua 2006-2011 involved internal discussions within the Ministry of Health, as well as discussions with key external groups including a Māori Sector Reference Group and the Whakatātaka Chief Executive Forum which includes: Margot Mains (Capital and Coast DHB), Cathy Cooney (Lakes DHB), Dr Gershu Paul (Southland DHB, now left), Kevin Hague (West Coast).
In September and October 2005, the Ministry of Health undertook limited sector engagement on Whakatātaka Tuarua with District Health Board and Primary Health Organisation representatives.
2. What does Whakatātaka Tuarua discussion document cover?
The document identifies the following areas for particular attention:
- building quality data and monitoring Māori health
- developing whānau ora-based models
- improving Māori participation at all levels of the health and disability sector, particularly workforce development and governance
- improving primary health care.
These areas were identified by the Ministry of Health as well as through discussions within the health and disability sector.
3. What actions are contained within the discussion document?
The discussion document proposes a set of new actions to be undertaken from 2006-2011. Many of the initiatives proposed in the draft action plan build on the Ministry of Health’s core business and incorporate some of the Government’s other key health strategies. Examples of this include the incorporation of initiatives from Healthy Eating - Healthy Action and the New Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy.
The initiatives are not exhaustive and it is expected they will evolve and others will emerge during the course of the consultation process on the discussion document.
Many actions will be led by the Ministry of Health, while others require working collaboratively with a range of key stakeholders.
4. How will the Ministry of Health ensure the delivery of actions?
Milestones, timeframes and measures of progress associated with each new action are identified. These outline what is expected from each specific action within a financial year.
5. What further consultation will be undertaken?
Consultation will commence in June and conclude by mid August. Thirteen hui will be held throughout the country.
Four DHB regional hui will be held in July 2006 to identify specific district health board actions. The Ministry expects that District Health Boards will add their own initiatives through the consultation process. The Ministry will undertake an analysis of DHB Māori health plans as well as other relevant information to help with identifying areas where DHBs can lead and add value.
An inter-agency workshop to boost the number of intersectoral initiatives is scheduled in late July 2006.
6. Who will fund the Whakatātaka Tuarua action plan?
As with the first plan, DHBs, the Ministry of Health and other funders will be expected to prioritise Māori health within their funding allocations.
7. Will Māori health providers continue to be funded?
One of the ways that the Ministry of Health supports Māori health providers is through the Māori Provider Development Scheme (MPDS).
MPDS is allocated through the following funding categories:
- infrastructure support to develop or strengthen management and operational processes
- workforce development which includes training or up-skilling both clinical and non-clinical staff of Māori providers
- integration of services which provides funding to build on opportunities to co-ordinate and integrate service administration and delivery
- accreditation/best practice which provides funding to enable providers to achieve nationally recognised standards of accreditation, and
- Māori health scholarships.
8. Will specific disability initiatives for Māori be reflected in Whakatātaka Tuarua?
Yes. The discussion document identifies some actions and it is anticipated that more may emerge through consultation.
9. Does the Ministry of Health see merit in providing a greater steer to the sector about whānau ora and what works well?
Yes. That is why the discussion document proposes an ongoing focus in this area. However, we still need to respect the diversity of the Māori population and consider the complexity of Māori living in contemporary New Zealand.
The Ministry considers there is a need to continue to support Māori-led health initiatives that provide innovative and evidence based solutions in this area.
The Ministry also considers there is a need to share these examples with others across the sector for the benefit of all as well as promoting the use and development of tools, such as the Health Equity Assessment Tool, which help in the attainment of whānau ora.
The Whānau Ora Awards in October 2004 were a first step to promote initiatives and celebrate models of service delivery that increase whānau health and wellbeing. The Ministry wants to continue to build on this work.
10. What are the next steps?
Following consultation and analysis of submissions, the Ministry of Health will work to refine and finalise the action plan so it can be approved by Cabinet in October 2006 and be released to the sector in December 2006. For further information or media interviews please phone Victoria Evans on (04) 496 2036 or 021 802 622