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Urban Maori are absent from the steering group put together by Sir Mason Durie to identify candidates for the interim board of the Māori Health Authority.
The group is heavy on tribal executives, with Dr Matire Harwood the only medical practitioner.
Ngai Tahu s Sir Mark Solomon, Kim Ngarimu from Ngati Porou and Parekawhia McLean from Waikato Tainui chair have experience at governance or executive level on district health boards.
The other members are Rāhui Papa from Waikato Tainui, Rongowhakaata Trust general manager Amohaere Houkamau and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu chair Lisa Tumahai.
The Steering Group will provide advice to the Transition Unit in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet on governance arrangements and initial appointments to an interim board.
Lisa Tumahai
“Tā Mason has assembled a strong group of Māori leaders to begin this important process. I am confident that their leadership, experience and perspectives will enable access to the network of talent within Māoridom and allow them to identify a high-performing group of candidates to provide governance leadership to the interim Māori Health Authority. This approach is a marker of the future health system I am seeking – that we move forward in a true partnership approach with Māori,” Andrew Little said.
“The Māori Health Authority is about enabling Māori to exercise meaningful leadership and control over their hauora. I have no doubt that the considerable collective experience and connections of this group will allow them to determine the ideal mix of rangatira Māori to steer the interim Māori Health Authority forward, including its establishment and how it exercises rangatiratanga within the wider health system. It is exciting to move to this next stage
The unanimous decision to withdraw the motion for an extraordinary meeting and address the issues in-house was made in the spirit of the partnership agreement, Te Mana Whakahono, signed by the council and mana whenua last October, the rūnanga said. “Rather than putting the office of chair to a confidence vote next Monday, councillors agreed to seek external assistance to guide governance issues, and to move ahead positively and in unity.”
Joanne Naish/Stuff
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae chairman Francois Tumahai says the regional council has agreed to move ahead “in unity”. The iwi had not been consulted about the issue, which was disrespectful and against the spirit of partnership, Tumahai said.