Bill to disestablish Māori Health Authority passed

Dr Shane Reti succeeded Labour’s Dr Ayesha Verrall as Minister for Health. Source: Mark Mitchell. 

The disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority, Te Aka Whai Ora, was one of the promises made by the National Party in their 100-Day Plan. 

The Pae Ora (Disestablishment of Māori Health Authority) Amendment Bill was introduced under urgency. It was passed before a scheduled Waitangi Tribunal hearing into the proposal could occur. 

The hearing was set to take place on February 29. The Waitangi Tribunal were investigating whether the dismantling of Te Aka Whai Ora breached the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. 

On February 28, Parliament passed the bill with 68 votes to 54. 

Te Aka Whai Ora was established in 2022 with goals for improving Māori health outcomes. 

The need for these improvements can be seen in reports by Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, as Māori have a higher mortality rate than non-Māori. 

The main contributors to this low morality are health conditions such as heart disease and cancer. These are diseases which can be treated with proper health care, which was historically not always accessible to Māori. 

With Te Aka Whai Ora, Māori gained greater authority over Hauora Māori. This giving Māori autonomy over setting strategy and policy, monitoring outcomes of the health system, and commissioning of Māori health services. 

The disestablishment of this bill poses questions regarding the future of Māori health practices and services. 

When introducing the bill, Minister for Health Dr Shane Reti (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai, Te Kapotai, Ngāti Maniapoto), said, “While the particular version of the dream that the Māori Health Authority laid out is coming to an end today, I want to paint a different dream: one that will be outcomes-driven, providing greater devolved decision-making that will deliver care as close to the home and the hapū as possible.” 

"There is organisational expertise in the Māori Health Authority, and I want to retain that. I say to Māori Health Authority staff, to please join me, guide me, and help us together to row a different waka towards better health outcomes. This bill enables that,” said Reti.