Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health
As kaitiaki of the system, the Ministry of Health has an important leadership role to play in creating an environment that enables Māori to live healthier, happier lives.
Whakamaua: Māori Health Action Plan 2020-2025 is the implementation plan for He Korowai Oranga, New Zealand’s Māori Health Strategy – it will help us achieve better health outcomes for Māori by setting 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, which provides a tool for the health and disability system to fulfil its stewardship obligations and special relationship between Māori and the Crown.
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.
Whakamaua presents new opportunities for the Ministry, the health and disability system, and the wider government to make considerable progress in achieving Māori health equity. This direction is supported by the final report of the Health and Disability System Review.
Whakamaua has been developed alongside an Expert Advisory Group, its membership including Māori academics and researchers, health professionals, and iwi, disability and rangatahi leaders.
Whakamaua has been shaped by feedback provided through an extensive engagement process. Whatua – Summary Report: Engagement for the development of Whakamaua: Māori Health Action Plan 2020-2025 has been published as a companion document to Whakamaua – giving visibility to the voices of Māori communities and the health and disability sector. This report provides a summary of key themes from the Ministry’s engagement process with key stakeholders in 2019.
The Ministry will measure and report progress regularly as Whakamaua is implemented.
