Judith Collins calls Māori Health Authority segregation from last century
28 Apr, 2021 12:00 AM
4 minutes to read
National leader Judith Collins wants the public to have a say over a proposed Māori Health Authority. Photo / File
National leader Judith Collins wants the public to have a say over a proposed Māori Health Authority. Photo / File
Social issues reporter, NZ Heraldmichael.neilson@nzherald.co.nz
National leader Judith Collins has stepped up her attack on the proposed Māori Health Authority, calling it segregation from last century and in need of public consultation.
Her comments have been slammed by Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, calling it desperate racist politicking , saying Collins should read her party s own 2020 election review which recommended making Māori a priority area .
The changes are in response to the Health and Disability System Review, led by Helen Clark s former chief of staff Heather Simpson, which found the public health system, was complex and not equitable for Kiwis.Â
The interim Health and Disability System Review report in 2019 found MÄori have not been served well by the system , and the system overall has not delivered MÄori health and wellbeing outcomes that are fair . Â
Despite evidence that MÄori have not been served equitably in health, Collins fears the MÄori Health Authority will take New Zealand back to the era of segregation - when MÄori and PÄkehÄ lived separately.Â
All DHB members were responsible to the health minister rather than their local community. Fees paid to chairs, deputy chairs and members varied according to the size of the DHB area and ranged from about $13,000 to $80,000 for chairs, and $6510 to more than $40,000 for members.
Supplied
Professor Robin Gauld, of the University of Otago’s Centre for Health Systems and Technology, says health board fees will be better spent on improving skills and expertise within the public health system rather than on consultants. The health minister decided how much each DHB member received based on a fees framework for board members of Crown entities.
Andrew Little says health reform will remove duplication and unnecessary bureaucracy between regions.
The government has often been accused of timidity by its supporters, who want to see it taking bold action, particularly when it has such a clear majority.
This week, the government heeded their concerns when it announced a dramatic overhaul of the health system, going much further than reviewer Heather Simpson had recommended. Simpson had suggested in her report reducing the number of district health boards to about six.
In response, the government has decided to scrap them altogether and replace them with a new Crown entity, Health New Zealand. A new public health authority will be set up –
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