Enabling Te Arawa Hauora Data Stories

The hauora data stories of Iwi-Māori whānau living in Rotorua can soon be told by Te Arawa.

Te Taura Ora o Waiariki – Te Arawa Iwi Māori Partnership Board (IMPB) and PHO, Rotorua Area Primary Health Services (RAPHS), have signed a data sharing agreement supporting Te Arawa whānau access to Māori health data and collection.

Enabling autonomy and transparent analysis of Māori health data can assist IMPBs nationally to self-determine priorities and monitor health sector performance for enhancing hauora Māori.

Over several months, RAPHS worked in partnership with Te Taura Ora o Waiariki to unravel technical and health system knots that historically prevented secure and specific data sharing. The relationship between RAPHS and Te Taura Ora o Waiariki is enduring. For RAPHS, the agreement reinforces their values of He Ora Whakapiri (Together, we make it better) and the commitment to improve health system outcomes and equity.

“Health data is a taonga, it is whakapapa, holding the genetic journey and experiences of whānau. For RAPHS, the data sharing agreement respects this taonga and is another step toward tino rangatiratanga by enabling data sovereignty for iwi Māori.” - RAPHS CEO, Kirsten Stone

The arrangement empowers Taura Ora o Waiariki to have confidential access to Māori health data that has been compiled and made anonymous. This means personal information such as a person’s name, date of birth, or address won’t be seen and individuals can’t be identified. Data will be retrieved, analysed, and monitored to inform hauora Māori strategy and outcomes.

“Having access to accurate and timely local data is a game changer for Te Taura Ora o Waiariki. Our agreement with RAPHS will help us to identify and advocate for key changes to policy, service provision, and the funding mechanisms needed to improve quality and access to healthcare for Māori. Coupled with what whānau are telling us, we can build a clearer picture of where best to concentrate our efforts – having data means we can work smarter” – Te Taura Ora o Waiariki GM, Aroha Dorset

Background:

Rotorua Area Primary Health Services Limited (RAPHS)

RAPHS is a community based not-for-profit clinical network. We have been committed to improving health and wellbeing in the Rotorua region for over 30 years.

A group of forward-thinking providers in the Rotorua community first established our organisation in 1991. Today, RAPHS is Rotorua's Primary Health Organisation (PHO). As a PHO, we support a range of clinical programmes for our community, and provide business, administrative and technology support for our member providers and partner organisations.

Rotorua Area Primary Health Services (RAPHS) provides health services to the local community through a network of 13 general practice providers in the Lakes District, spanning Rotorua to Mangakino and Murupara. Healthcare teams provide health services to about 71,000 people in the Rotorua city and rural areas.

RAPHS launched whānau-centred wellness hub, Koiora, in 2023 to support the unmet needs of Rotorua's population of underserved and unenrolled. Koiora is based in central Rotorua as a walk-in clinic providing holistic wrap around health care at no or low cost to users, ensuring services are accessible by all members of our community.

raphs.org.nz | 0800 1 KOIORA | 1165 Tutanekai Street, Rotorua

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