Source: PSA
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi opposes Pharmac’s in-principle decision to remove its Te Tiriti o Waitangi Policy, saying it would be a clear breach of legal obligations, a rollback of Māori protections, and a continuation of structural harm to Māori staff and health equity.
“Pharmac’s decision in principle to completely wipe out its Te Tiriti policy is yet another example of this Government pursuing ideology to the detriment of some of our most disadvantaged communities,” Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi acting Kaihautū Māori, Marcia Puru, says.
“The Policy gives Pharmac a structure around how it can be an active partner in Te Tiriti. Removing it would make the agency less responsive and accountable to improving Māori health equity.
“It would undermine the Māori experts and voices within Pharmac, clearly telling kaimahi that improving Māori health outcomes is no longer a priority.”
Māori Directorate dismantled
Earlier this year, Pharmac disestablished its entire Māori Directorate, dissolving its internal leadership structure for Māori health equity.
These changes left Māori staff without dedicated leadership, a clear strategy or a culturally safe internal framework.
The in-principal removal of Te Tiriti Policy now compounds this harm effectively wiping out Te Tiriti accountabilities across the organisation.
“This wasn’t just a restructure, it was a dismantling of Māori-decision making power and a silencing of Māori expertise within Pharmac,” Puru says.
The Pharmac Board justified its decision in principle to remove the policy “in light of current Government direction”, citing the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill.
Pharmac is a Crown agent and is legally bound to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, give effect to section 7 of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, and honour Māori-Crown relationships under the Public Service Act 2022 (ss 14-17).
Removing the Te Tiriti policy without consultation or engagement puts the agency at risk of non-compliance with these statutory obligations.
“It is reckless and pre-emptive to scrap a Māori equity framework while legislation is still under review. Pharmac is sending a dangerous message that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is optional.
“This decision is a dangerous precedent to set for a government agency who has a lot of power over the health of New Zealanders.
“But unfortunately, this is far from the first time this Government has removed specialist teams and told the public service to focus on ‘need, not race’ – a completely false directive that ignores the lived experience of Māori.”
The PSA says that removing Te Tiriti Policy also impacts upon staff. The union’s collective agreement includes cultural safety provisions for kaimahi Māori.
“The removal of Te Tiriti policy would weaken protections and support for Māori staff members. Losing those cultural safety provisions would be an unacceptable, and huge, step down for kaimahi.
“We stand with our Māori members. This is not just about one policy, this is about dismantling the very structures that protect Māori health, rights and leadership. We will not allow Te Tiriti o Waitangi to be undermined by political direction or agency silence.”
