20 May 2022
Anna Goodwin
[FYI request #19380 email]
Ref: OIA-2021/22-1350
Dear Anna Goodwin
Official Information Act request relating to the legislation and advice the Māori Health
Authority (MHA) is based on
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 17 May 2022.
You requested:
Please provide the legal authority and advice upon which this ill fated construct was
considered and any minutes of meetings with the Confederation of United Tribes and
the Hereditary Chiefs in which their consent was obtained. It would seem that the
government has embarked upon spending $20 billion on a Maori Health Authority
without meaningful consultation with key Maori stakeholders in the Confederation of
United Tribes.“
Information publicly available
Information related to Cabinet decisions on the Māori Health Authority is publicly available at
the following li
nk https://www.futureofhealth.govt.nz/publications/information-releases/
There is a list on that link of key stakeholders we have engaged with during the early part of
the health reform process.
We are declining your request under section 18 (d) of the Act, on the basis that advice to
Ministers and Cabinet which underpins the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill is publicly
available here
[https://www.futureofhealth.govt.nz/publications/information-releases/]; and
under section 18e of the Act as the information you have requested in relation to the
Confederation of United Tribes and Hereditary Chiefs does not exist.
It may be useful if I provide some information about the health reforms and the establishment
of a new Māori Health Authority. The development of a Māori Health Authority was
recommended by the Health and Disability System Review, and the Authority’s design and
role in the health system were designed in extensive consultation with Māori. This process
indicated strong support for the establishment of a Māori Health Authority which is a leader in
our reformed health system.
The Government’s reforms to the health system do not create a separate health system for
Māori. New Zealand has and wil continue to have one health system. Transforming the
health system will create a more equitable, accessible, cohesive and people-centred system
that will improve the health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders.
Our health and disability system has underperformed for Māori for too long – life expectancy
is seven years less than for Pākehā and twice as many Māori deaths as Pākehā are
potentially avoidable.
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4550727
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz
The reforms are designed to enhance Māori rangatiratanga over hauora Māori and to ensure
greater influence through the health system. This is not only because it is central to Te Tiriti o
Waitangi, but also to ensure everyone has the same access to good health outcomes.
The new, autonomous Māori Health Authority wil be responsible for ensuring the health
system is performing for Māori by:
•
partnering with the Ministry to advise Ministers on hauora Māori
•
directly funding innovative health services targeted at Māori (including kaupapa
Māori services)
•
working with Health New Zealand to plan and monitor the delivery of all health
services.
It will do this by working in partnership with Health NZ, jointly developing national health
plans, and working together to design and commission healthcare. The Māori Health
Authority’s role wil be to work collaboratively with Health NZ to ensure every New Zealander
has access to equitable care. If you would like to know more about how the Māori Health
Authority
will
work,
I
invite
you
to
have
a
look
at
the
resources
at
https://www.futureofhealth.govt.nz/maori-health-authority/
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
We do not intend to publish this response on the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet’s website.
Yours sincerely
Stephen McKernan QSO
Director, Health and Disability Review Transition Unit
4550727
2
