Draft Mäori Health Strategy Public Consultation

Public Consultation To Be Held On The Draft Mäori Health Strategy

The draft Maori Health Strategy He Korowai Oranga was released today. Iwi, Maori communities, health and disability providers, and those interested, can discuss and comment on it during a series of hui in May.

The Deputy Director-General of Mäori Health, Ria Earp, welcomes the opportunity to take this document, He Korowai Oranga, to the community to ensure their views and perspectives are included in the final strategy.

"The aim of He Korowai Oranga is whänau ora ? supporting healthy Mäori families. He Korowai Oranga builds on the framework established by the New Zealand Health Strategy, and on the significant gains in Mäori health made by both Mäori and government."

"It acknowledges the importance of initiatives to strengthen communities, the need for better coordination across sectors, improving the quality of health services as well as building on the development of Maori provider and workforce development."

He Korowai Oranga has been developed in consultation with a sector reference group consisting of Mäori health workers, consumers and providers from throughout the health and disability sector.

Ria Earp said the Government would work collaboratively with iwi, Mäori communities, District Health Boards and health and disability sector workers to achieve Mäori health objectives.

"It is a key document relevant to all groups and we welcome your input into its development and direction."

He Korowai Oranga will be developed in two phases. The first phase is a series of consultation hui on the overall directions, goals and pathways for Mäori health. Phase two is the implementation plan for the strategy.

The nine hui will be held in the following locations on the following dates:

|------------------------------------------------+------------------------ ------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Wellington |Te Aroha Sport Complex, Waiwhetu Marae |2 May | |------------------------------------------------+------------------------ ------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Northland |The Park Lodge on Paihia |3 May | |------------------------------------------------+------------------------ ------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Auckland |Waipuna Lodge |4 May | |------------------------------------------------+------------------------ ------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Rotorua |Te Ao Marama |8 May | |------------------------------------------------+------------------------ ------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Hawkes Bay |Kohupatiki Marae |10 May | |------------------------------------------------+------------------------ ------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Wanganui |Putiki Marae |15 May | |------------------------------------------------+------------------------ ------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Nelson |Whakatu Marae |17 May | |------------------------------------------------+------------------------ ------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Invercargill |Murihiku Marae |24 May | |------------------------------------------------+------------------------ ------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Christchurch |Rehua Marae |25 May | |------------------------------------------------+------------------------ ------------------------+------------------------------------------------|

(Note: All hui take place 9am-4pm except in Hawkes Bay where the hui will be 10am-4.30pm).

For a copy of He Korowai Oranga, the Mäori Health Strategy, access the Ministry of Health web site at www.moh.govt.nz/mhs.html

Media interviews will be possible during hui workshop but MUST be arranged in advance through Ministry of Health Media Advisors.

Ends

Questions and Answers: Maori Health Strategy

What is this document? He Korowai Oranga, Maori Health Strategy, is a discussion document that identifies some of the key issues to be addressed to support whanau to achieve health and wellbeing.

What is the aim of this document? He Korowai Oranga, Maori Health Strategy, provides guidelines for the improvement of whanau health outcomes. As a discussion document it will provide the starting point for health providers, the Maori community, District Health Boards, health and disability organisations and individuals to contribute to the final the strategy.

How was the strategy developed? He Korowai Oranga was produced by the Ministry of Health with the input of a Sector Reference Group and a Focus Group made up of Maori health workers, users of health services, and providers from different parts of the health and disability sector.

How does it relate to the New Zealand Health Strategy? The New Zealand Health Strategy was released in December 2000 and was the Government's platform for action on health. The Maori Health Stratgey takes the goals, objectives and principles of the New Zealand Health Strategy to the next stage and provides more detail on how Maori health objectives will be achieved.

What are some of the inequalities between the health of Maori and the health of non-Maori? Although Maori health life expectancy has improved rapidly over the past 40 years it is still more than eight years lower than that of non-Maori. Maori also continue to experience a heavier burden of disease and injury than non-Maori. As a population group, Maori have on average the poorest health status of any group in New Zealand. According to the 1996 census, 54,345 persons were actively engaged in the health workforce - Maori made up 3,741 or 6.9% of that number.

What is Whanau Ora? Whanau Ora means healthy Maori families supported to achieve their maximum health and wellbeing.

What were some of the practical "next steps" outlined in the strategy towards improving whanau health Build on the existing gains made in Maori health and continue Maori workforce and Maori provider development Explore ways to deliver services in new settings appropriate to whanau Develop plans to remove financial, cultural, geographical, physical and other barriers faced by Maori experiencing disability Establish necessary DHB resources (human, finacial, technological) to engage Maori communities Promote Maori participation in DHB elections as both candidates and voters Develop policies for on-the-job Maori community and voluntary worker accreditation Identify barriers and ways to reduce them to Maori advancing at all levels of the health and disability workforce, especially to senior positions Work with health workforce training institutions to incorporate Maori health issues into training programmes Put in place complaint procedures appropriate to Maori Ensure Maori have access to appropriate health and disability information

Where to from here? The final draft of He Korowai Oranga, Maori Health Strategy, is due for completion by December 2001 and will be followed by an implementation plan.

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