Maori, News

New action plan to boost Māori health and wellbeing

August 4, 2020

A new action plan that will help to achieve better health outcomes for Māori has been welcomed by HPF.

Whakamaua: Māori Health Action Plan 2020-2025 is the implementation plan for He Korowai Oranga, New Zealand’s Māori Health Strategy and will set the Government’s direction for Māori health advancement over the next five years.

Whakamaua is underpinned by the Ministry’s new Te Tiriti o Waitangi Framework. The plan presents new opportunities for the Ministry, the health and disability system, and the wider government to make considerable progress in achieving Māori health equity — a direction supported by the final report of the Health and Disability System Review. HPF’s Deputy Executive Director and Senior Strategist in Maori Health Promotion Trevor Simpson says a pleasing aspect of Whakamaua is that it reasserts the relevance and value of He Korowai Oranga which was promulgated in 2002. “Importantly, this operationalises He Korowai Oranga and provides a plan of action for work that will improve Maori health outcomes over time,” says Mr Simpson. “One aspect that will need to be part and parcel of Whakamaua is the development of an effective and efficient, well-trained workforce. In this regard, health promotion and the health promotion workforce must be supported to fulfil this role.” In his foreword to the plan Associate Minister for Health Peeni Henare says Pae ora is the overarching aim of He Korowai Oranga and is underpinned by the three key elements of whānau ora, mauri ora, and wai ora. Mr Henare says ensuring the voices of Māori are captured in the plan has been an integral part of its development. “The priorities and actions outlined are born out of the myriad conversations the Ministry and wider government had with key stakeholders including whānau, hapū, and iwi,” he said. “I am excited and hopeful for the opportunity this action plan presents.” The Ministry’s Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says in his foreword that the Ministry will progressively update Whakamaua to respond to the outcomes of the Health and Disability System Review, and ensure we are well positioned for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our commitment to the Ministry’s obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi has fully informed the development of Whakamaua and will continue to inform its implementation over the coming years.” Whakamaua outlines a suite of actions that will help to achieve four high-level outcomes. These are:

• – Iwi, hapū, whānau and Māori communities exercising their authority to improve their health and wellbeing.
• – Ensuring the health and disability system is fair and sustainable and delivers more equitable outcomes for Māori.
• – Addressing racism and discrimination in all its forms.
• – Protecting mātauranga Māori throughout the health and disability system.

To view the action plan click here