efforts to reduce these gaps have seen the achievement of
Mäori and Pacific secondary students increase across some
areas over the last year. Also, the number of Pacific and
Mäori children participating in early childhood education
has risen significantly since 2000 (by 12.8 and 9.2 per cent
respectively).21
dramatic increase in hospital admissions for infectious diseases
such as pneumonia, meningococcal disease and tuberculosis.
Two major Ministry of Education strategies to improve
educational opportunities for Mäori and Pacific learners
were reinvigorated. Ka Hikitia, the Mäori Education
Strategy was reviewed for 2013–2017, with revised
goals to realise the potential of every Mäori student. The
Pasifika Education Plan 2013–2017 set out new goals for
raising Pacific learners’ participation and achievement
from early learning through to tertiary education. Both
strategies set out objectives for schools to: promote Mäori
and Pacific achievement; work with families to identify
ways of bringing students’ identity, language, and culture
into school life; and to track how well Mäori and Pacific
students are doing towards achieving
National Standards.
Study reveals hearing problems for
Pacific children
Other attempts by schools to boost
educational success for disadvantaged
students included programmes to give
healthy and nutritious food to hungry
students; providing health and welfare
services in schools; and efforts to
increase the number of high quality
teachers in low-decile schools.
Crowded houses lead to
hospital admissions
Good health relies on having a safe,
comfortable place to live, eating
nutritious food and being able to
access health care services. Unequal
access to these basics can take years
off your life.
Up to a third of Pacific children could be struggling to
cope with hearing problems according to new research
led by Professor Janis Paterson from AUT University and
Professor Suzanne Purdy from the University of Auckland.23
The research, part of the Pacific Islands Families (PIF)
longitudinal study at AUT University, focused on a group of
Pacific 11-year-olds in South Auckland. It found that more
than 25 per cent of the children failed a hearing test in one
or both of their ears, due to inner ear hearing loss or middle
ear problems such as glue ear. About
a third of the children tested also met
the criteria for auditory processing
disorder (APD), a condition affecting
a child’s ability to listen and process
information at school. Pacific and
Mäori children are significantly more
likely to have permanent hearing
problems compared with other
children. If these problems are not
properly addressed they can affect
a child’s wellbeing and educational
achievement.
1 in 10
admissions to
hospital for
infectious diseases
is the direct
result of crowded
households.22
The extent of the inequalities on
the population’s health was identified in a significant
new study by Otago University which looked at the
impact of crowded households on people’s health.22 The
study revealed that one in 10 admissions to hospital for
infectious diseases were a direct result of household
overcrowding. For Mäori and Pacific peoples, the figure
jumped to one in five hospital admissions. About 45 per
cent of Pacific children and 28 per cent of Mäori children
live in crowded houses.
Research showed that over the last two decades, an
increasingly severe shortage of affordable housing has led to a
Tüi Tüi Tuituiä | Race Relations in 2013
Access to habitable and affordable housing and culturally
relevant health care services is essential to improving the
health of vulnerable populations.
Improving health care
for culturally and
linguistically diverse
populations
With the growing diversity of
Aotearoa New Zealand’s population,
health practitioners are experiencing
more cross-cultural interactions with patients. Culturally
and linguistically diverse groups (CALD) often face
disparities in health status compared to other groups. They
also tend to underutilise health services.
Improving the health of these groups means providing
health care which takes account of the language and
religion of patients, as well as ensuring services are
accessible, culturally appropriate, effective and safe.
A new resource published by Waitematä District Health
Board contains best practice principles when working
with CALD service users, including migrant and refugee
31