Māori Health Authority
The independent Māori Health Authority was
announced in 2021 based on the Waitangi Tribunal
WAI 2575 Health Services and Outcomes Inquiry,
which highlighted systemic racism and the
consistent failure in the healthcare and well-being
of Māori.86 The health reforms to date have been
unable to address inequitable health outcomes
for Māori. The Māori Health Authority will be
The Minister of Health has a
direct relationship with all key
organisations.
Most of the wider ring of agencies will not be
changing as part of these reforms – however,
the Health Promotion agency will become
a business unit as part of our core health
agencies to make sure our whole system is
orientated towards helping people live well.
Minister of Health
In the future health system,
the Ministry’s role is focused
on stewardship, strategy and
policy - with commissioning
and operational roles moved
into Health NZ.
The Ministry wil include
a Public Health Agency,
with a national focus on
protecting public health
against threats such as
pandemics.
responsible for ensuring the health system is
performing for Māori and will work with Iwi-Māori
Partnership Boards, Māori health providers, iwi,
hapū and Māori communities to understand Māori
health needs across New Zealand (Figure 4). In each
locality, partnerships between Iwi-Māori Partnership
Boards, Health NZ commissioners and the wider
community will ensure Māori voices are heard.87
Ministry of Health
Health Quality and Safety
Commission
Operational health agencies
(e.g NZ Blood Service)
Public Health
Agency
Māori Health
Authority
Health and Disability
Commissioner
Health NZ
A Māori Health Authority will
ensure that our system has
a strong focus on health
outcomes and care for Māori,
and will commission services in
partnership with Health NZ.
Commissioning
and provision of
healthcare services
The national operational roles of the
Ministry of Health and the 20 DHBs
will merge into Health NZ, a new entity
responsible for day-to-day running of
our whole health system. Health NZ will
include a unified public health service,
bringing together all 12 public Health Units.
Care will continue to be provided by the same dedicated
people as today – but with much better consistency and
coordination, and much less fragmentation.
Figure 4. Overview of Māori Health Authority.88
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Te Kāhui Tika Tangata New Zealand Human Rights Commission Housing Inquiry