29 August 2023
Ref Number: MHA26575
Grace Haden
[email address]
Tēnā koe Grace
Official information request for information relating to the naming of Te Aka Whai Ora
| Māori Health Authority
I refer to your official information request to Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health dated
12 July 2023 for information relating to the te reo Māori naming of Te Aka Whai Ora | Māori
Health Authority, and costs related to branding and promotion.
On 2 August 2023, your
request was partially transferred to Te Aka Whai Ora.
I understand Manatū Hauora has provided you with a response to address the following
section of your request:
“8.during Covid we were told to trust the health ministry now this same ministry is
confusing the public by using non legal names... if due diligence cannot be performed
as to the identity and legal name of a government body how can we the public have
confidence that we are not being misled with regards to other matters. we
requiretrnaspar3ency and legal names to be used why has this not occurred”
Te Aka Whai Ora wil be responding to parts 1 through 7 of your request as set out below.
“
1.the documentation which sets out the background to these names being
created and assigned, the consultation, costs and approvals associated with
this”
In 2022, the interim Chief Executives of Te Aka Whai Ora and Te Whatu Ora | Health New
Zealand sought the development of names for both organisations. The then interim Māori
Health Authority Pou Tikanga was appointed to lead the naming process and subsequently
formed an expert advisory group (the Matanga Reo). The Matanga Reo comprised of te reo
Māori experts from across Aotearoa.
The Matanga Reo only held three online hui, and there was no formal cost associated with
the development of the names by the Matanga Reo. The role of Pou Tikanga was occupied
by a contractor.
Following Te Aka Whai Ora Board approval of the name, “Te Aka Whai Ora” was formally
finalised for use on 1 July 2022 following the hikina te tapu process carried out at a
ceremony in Waitangi.
Further background on the concept behind the te reo Māori name is available on our website
at
: www.teakawhaiora.nz/about-us/a-matou-whakapapa-our-narrative/our-name/. The information found to be in scope of your request is enclosed and listed in
Appendix 1.
The full minutes can be found at
www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/publications/interim-board-
meeting-agendas-and-minutes/.
“2.documents showing the basis and authority including accountability
provisions to the public on which these three undefined names can have legal
responsibility for our health system”
1
The Māori Health Authority was established under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022
(Pae Ora Act). The purpose and functions of Te Aka Whai Ora are detailed in section 18 and
19 of the Pae Ora Act. Monitoring of Te Aka Whai Ora is carried out in a number of ways
under the Pae Ora Act and the Crown Entities Act 2004 (Crown Entities Act) including:
• The Government Policy Statement on Health, section 36(1)(c) and broadly sections
34 to 39 of the Pae Ora Act
• By Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards, section 30(1)(d) of the Pae Ora Act
• By the Minister of Health through the Hauora Māori Strategy, sections 42 and 48 of
the Pae Ora Act
• By the Minister of Health through the Statement of Performance Expectations,
sections 149B to 149M of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
I am aware that Manatū Hauora has responded to you with explanations regarding Maihi
Karauna, the Crown’s Strategy for Māori Language Revitalisation 2019 – 2023 and its
application by government agencies. This initiative is also relevant to Te Aka Whai Ora and
has been adopted by the agency.
Expanding on the response from Manatū Hauora, our te reo Māori name and use of te reo
Māori in our work aligns with the purpose of the Māori Language Act 2016 (Te Ture mō te
Reo Māori) which is:
(a)to affirm the status of the Māori language as—
(i)the indigenous language of New Zealand; and
(i )a taonga of iwi and Māori; and
(i i)a language valued by the nation; and
(iv)an official language of New Zealand
After Parliament agreed in the Māori Language Act 1987 to recognise Māori as an official
language of New Zealand, use of te reo Māori language has increasingly become more
common in wider New Zealand society. In line with this shift, most government agencies
have taken steps to adopt te reo Māori, including acquiring Māori names to use at their
discretion alongside their English name. This position is supported by Te Kawa Mataaho |
Public Service Commission and as far as we are aware, there has been no government or
judicial direction to statutory entities to cease the use of their te reo names.
There is no statute that either authorises the use of te reo names for government entities,
nor is there one that prohibits the use of te reo names for government entities. The
information you are seeking does not exist, and as such this part of your request is refused
under section 18(e) of the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
“3.documents which show how much was paid in consultation for the
branding, for printing of stationery and signage and promotion of the brands
4.documentation to show who approved this expenditure and what official
capacity this person or persons held”
The only documentation that shows costing are invoices from suppliers, some of which
include a number of items unrelated to your request. For efficiency, we have consolidated
the costs that are relevant to your request and provide them in
Appendix 2. All costs listed
wil have been approved by the Chief Executive.
2
Given the context of your request, we have interpreted your request for promotional brand
costs to mean the initial advertising costs associated with the establishment of Te Aka Whai
Ora to increase awareness of the agency. Since initial establishment, there has been no
further promotion to increase public awareness of Te Aka Whai Ora as an agency. Te Aka
Whai Ora has worked with Te Whatu Ora on public awareness campaigns, e.g., measles
and immunisation awareness. However, these costs are not considered to be promotion of
the agency itself and are largely paid for by Te Whatu Ora.
“5.documents showing consultation with the 96% of the population who either
do not speak Māori or are not Māori as to their understanding and
interpretation of these terms and an explanation as to why the majority of the
population is not catered for in the language which we were educated in the Nz
education system”
This part of your request is refused under section 18(e) of the Act as the document alleged
to contain the information requested does not exist.
“6.on its web site Te Aka Whai Ora states " Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health
Authority is an equal partner in the reformed health system of Aotearoa New
Zealand." please advise if the Māori health authority is exclusively for Māori
and what percentage of the funding does it receive from the total health budget
and what is the dollar value of funding for each Manatū Hauora, Te Aka Whai
Ora and Te Whatu Ora”
“7.Please provide the policy as to the criteria for accessing services from Te
Aka Whai Ora and advise if Māori have the benefit from either system and is Te
Whatu Ora specifically for those who are non-Māori. What are the criteria for
each in providing services to their respective sector of the Māori”
The Budget 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years breakdowns are as follows:
2022/23
2023/24
$ (000)
%
$ (000)
%
Manatū Hauora
305,413
1.17% 237,759
0.94%
Te Whatu Ora
23,076,930 88.13%
22,895,737 90.45%
Te Aka Whai Ora
573,647
2.19% 621,548
2.46%
Pharmac
2,152,264
8.22% 1,504,572
5.94%
Other Health Entities
77,409
0.29% 52,745
0.21%
Total Annual Appropriations
26,185,663 100.00%
25,312,361 100.00%
In New Zealand, ethnic identity is an important dimension of health inequalities. Generally,
Māori health outcomes are poorer than health outcomes of non-Māori New Zealanders.
Similarly, Pacific peoples also have poorer health outcomes than non-Māori New
Zealanders. In addition, gender and geographic location are also important dimensions of
health inequities. Some of these inequitable health outcomes and the disparity in key health
risk factors between Māori and non-Māori is discussed in the Regulatory Impact Statement:
Decision on the organisational form of a Māori Health Authority
(www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/regulatory-impact-statement-decision-organisational-form-
maori-health-authority).
3
Efforts to address the poor state of health for Māori, Pacific, and high needs populations
were underway before the recent changes to the health system. The health system reforms
are intended to ensure the health system is fairer, and more co-ordinated and connected, to
deliver better health and wellbeing for all New Zealanders. Te Aka Whai Ora was
established to lead and monitor transformational change in the way the health system
understands and responds to the health and wellbeing needs of whānau Māori. Te Aka Whai
Ora has a statutory responsibility to support efforts to reduce health disparities and
inequities.
The Te Aka Whai Ora commissioning approach seeks to invest in services grounded in te ao
Māori and ensure that the wider health system better recognises and is more responsive to
Māori needs. Te Aka Whai Ora is leading change in the way the health system understands
and responds to the health and wellbeing needs of whānau Māori and the wider community,
which means an investment in new service models, strategies and innovations grounded in
te ao Māori, such as te ao Māori population health approaches and mātauranga Māori
solutions.
Te Aka Whai Ora does not operate a separate health system to Te Whatu Ora, rather we
supplement Te Whatu Ora services by funding hauora Māori partners to deliver health
services which better meet the needs of Māori. Services funded by Te Aka Whai Ora are not
exclusively available to Māori. Both Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora fund services for
both Māori and non-Māori New Zealanders.
Te Aka Whai Ora intends to make the information contained in this letter and any attached
documents available to the wider public. We will do this by publishing this letter and
attachments on our website. Your personal details will be deleted, and Te Aka Whai Ora will
not
publish any information that would identify you as the person who requested the
information.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact Te Aka Whai Ora
Ministerial Services
([email address]).
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Craig Owen
Maiaka Tōakiaki | DCE Governance and Advisory Services
Te Aka Whai Ora
4
Appendix 1: Document Schedule
No. Document Type Document Title/Date
Status
1
Excerpt - briefing Briefing on Future Design of MHA –
released
12/04/2022
2
Excerpt - minutes Interim Māori Health Authority board minutes – released
14/04/2022
3
Excerpt -
Interim Māori Health Authority board minutes – released
agenda/minutes
19/04/2022
4
Excerpt - minutes Interim Health New Zealand board minutes –
released
29/04/2022
5
Excerpt - minutes Interim Health New Zealand board minutes –
released
27/05/2022
5
Appendix 2: Te Aka Whai Ora Promotion, Branding, Stationary Printing, and Signage Costs
Item description
Nature of cost
Cost ($)
Initial design costs - logo changes, document design, website formatting, graph designs, visual
aids etc.
Design and layout - initial Te Aka Whai Ora design and
application
4,340.00
Design and layout - additional presentations
1,860.00
Design and layout - further template development and
refinement
2,170.00
Design and layout - creation of tohu and taniko
620.00
Design and layout - Intranet and website, elements
775.00
Design and layout - pull-up banner
387.50
Design and layout - social media assets and guide
620.00
Design and layout - video elements
716.88
Design input from Māori Advisor
1,837.50
Account/project management
1,680.00
Lasers and disbursements
177.50
Costs relating to consultation with stakeholders
No costs incurred in this area
0.00
Costs relating to commission of consultants No costs incurred in this area
0.00
Costs relating to printing of signage
Pull-up banners for Day 1 - national office
471.50
Te Aka Whai Ora Posters
A1 x 10
A3 x 10
219.00
6
Item description
Nature of cost
Cost ($)
Miscellaneous signage (includes cost of design, printing
6 Teardrop flags and bases
and the items)
12 social media frames
6 pull-up banners
1 bellavim backdrop banner (large backdrop)
4 tablecloths
7,571.24
Cost relating to printing of stationery
Maori Health Authority-National Hui Compliments Slips
60.00
Organisational collateral for internal and external use
500 pens
(includes cost of design, printing and the items)
500 A5 notepads
500 lanyards
500 ID holders
4,395.00
Costs relating to advertising and content partnerships introducing the new authorities/brands
Health System Reform Public Information Campaign
Campaign paid for by DPMC Transition Unit
Rights to intel ectual property – i.e. images, symbols, designs etc.
No costs incurred in this area
0.00
Costs relating to video production
Technical support and production management for the
launch of Te Aka Whai Ora
Day 1 videos and livestream
$1,500.00
Note: The Health System Reform Public Information Campaign, which was administered by, and paid for, the Health Transition Unit within the
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, was implemented to help raise awareness, and increase understanding and trust and confidence in
the health system transformation. The names and logos of the new entities were included naturally as a component of campaign materials, although
were not the focus of the campaign.
7
