Source: New Zealand Governor General
E nga iwi o te motu e e huihui mai nei, tēnei aku mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora mai tātou katoa
Thank you so much for inviting me to join you at the Whaiora o Nga Iwi Taketake gala dinner. This is something of a homecoming for me as I was present at the beginnings of Te Hononga o Tamaki me Hoturoa, and it was my great privilege to be able to return and celebrate what you have achieved at an event such as this.
In 2010, I wonder if any of us could have imagined that 14 years later, Te Hononga, a relatively small Māori health provider, would be hosting a fully subscribed conference – attended by political leaders, health practitioners, community workers, researchers, academics, students, policy makers, and guardians of traditional knowledge and practices.
In 2010, as now, we could see communities missing out on access to vital healthcare in the Auckland region. Te Hononga was determined to improve this situation and has set about doing just that.
Te Hononga has become an effective force for good in the Auckland region, with holistic programmes of care in schools and people’s homes. I appreciate what a difference it makes when whānau interact with health-workers who understand their needs – and have expertise and cultural competence to meet their expectations.
The impacts of that experience benefit every aspect of people’s lives.
He oranga ngakau, he pikinga waiora.
In early 2020, when COVID-19 arrived in New Zealand, Te Hononga staff found ways to pivot and maintain those vital relationships and their duty of care. Phone and Facetime replaced kanehi-to-kanehi.
We were fortunate to see such a great spirit of collaboration between health providers during this time – to provide testing for COVID, to drop off food supplies to whānau, and later to roll out vaccination programmes. Their manaakitanga and dedication helped keep whānau safe at an anxious time for all concerned.
This conference is confirmation, if any were needed, that addressing indigenous health requires a clear focus on results that address inequities in health provision, access, treatments and follow up and therefore make a difference to health outcomes.
Interestingly, such approaches often benefit not just indigenous peoples and their families and communities, but also others who access such services. They are not exclusive, but they are responsive and informed.
Having the guidance of our kuia and kaumatua, our energy and expertise of younger Māori who combine specific expertise and compassion for those who have experienced disproportionate access and treatment, does lead to overall improvements for all New Zealanders.
This is vital work, and the stakes are high. We all want our tamariki to live long and healthy lives, and we need to do the right thing by them – and by our kuia and kaumatua.
I don’t discount the challenges for Māori health providers – the underling factors beyond your control, and the constraints you work under.
I also imagine you know the satisfaction of changing whānau perceptions of what health-care means for them, of diagnosing previously overlooked conditions, and empowering clients to manage those conditions more effectively.
We can also be proud that this kaupapa is gathering momentum across Aotearoa, and inspiring other indigenous communities around the world.
The time you are spending together this week will further strengthen your networks, your practice and capacity to succeed in your work.
And as your Governor-General, I can tell you that much your kaupapa aligns with my own aspirations for the greater wellbeing of the people and natural world in Aotearoa.
During my term of office, two of my strategic priorities are oranga and mohio – and stem from my experience in health, academia, and my previous role as Chief Executive of the Royal Society – where I welcomed and encouraged an responsiveness to Māori amongst our research community.
In my current role I have had several opportunities to converse with His Majesty King Charles, and you will be pleased to know he has expressed a keen interest in learning about the contributions indigenous knowledge can make to our understanding of the wellbeing of people and our natural world.
Congratulations to the Board of Te Hononga, to Marion her team involved in making this week’s hui happen, and I hope it will be the first of many!
