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| Te Aka Whai Ora | |
|---|---|
| Name | Te Aka Whai Ora |
| Formed | 2022 |
| Preceding1 | National Hauora Coalition |
| Jurisdiction | New Zealand |
| Headquarters | Wellington |
| Chief1 name | Dr Rawiri Jansen |
| Chief1 position | Chief Executive |
| Parent agency | Ministry of Health |
Te Aka Whai Ora Te Aka Whai Ora is Aotearoa New Zealand’s statutory Māori health agency established to advance hauora Māori and coordinate responses across health services. It succeeds frameworks from the Waitangi Tribunal, Whakamaua: Māori Health Action Plan 2020–2025, and reforms arising from the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 and related reviews. The agency operates within a network that includes entities such as Health New Zealand, Pharmaceutical Management Agency (Pharmac), ACC, Southern District Health Board, and stakeholders like Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, and iwi authorities.
The formation of Te Aka Whai Ora traces to long-running claims and recommendations by the Waitangi Tribunal, including findings from inquiries featuring parties such as Ngāpuhi, Tūhoe, and Ngāti Porou. Influences included policy documents like He Korowai Oranga, and reviews by commissions such as the Health and Disability System Review led by Ron Paterson. Predecessor organisations and initiatives included Whānau Ora, the National Hauora Coalition, and provider networks exemplified by Te Rau Matatini and Te Puni Kōkiri. The 2020s reforms followed political debates involving leaders from Labour Party (New Zealand), National Party (New Zealand), and ACT New Zealand and Ministers including Andrew Little, Paula Bennett, and Kiri Allan.
Te Aka Whai Ora is mandated to improve hauora Māori through commissioning, policy advice, workforce development, and service delivery, interacting with agencies such as Ministry of Health (New Zealand), DIA (Department of Internal Affairs), Statistics New Zealand, Te Tāhū o te Tairawhiti, and iwi trusts like Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Functions include implementation of targets from strategies like Whakamaua, agreements stemming from Te Tiriti o Waitangi settlements including Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998 and coordination with entities such as Housing New Zealand and Oranga Tamariki. It supports workforce initiatives aligned with qualifications from institutions like Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, University of Otago, and Massey University.
The statutory board structure interfaces with Crown structures established under acts such as the Crown Entities Act 2004 and interacts with tribunals including the Human Rights Commission (New Zealand). Governance involves partnerships with iwi governance groups such as Hauora Tairawhiti, Te Oranganui, and iwi-owned providers including Ngāti Whātua Health Services and Waikato-Tainui Health. Executive leadership draws expertise similar to figures associated with District Health Boards, while accountability links to Ministers who worked under cabinets led by Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins. Oversight mechanisms reference audits by the Controller and Auditor-General (New Zealand) and reviews like those led by Dame Silvia Cartwright in prior public sector inquiries.
Programs span primary care commissioning, mental health initiatives, pēpi and whānau services, and kaupapa Māori models tied to organisations such as Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust, Plunket, Samaritans (NZ), and Family Planning Association. Service models parallel work by providers like Manaaki Ora, Raukura Hauora o Tūranganui ā Kiwa, Ora Toa, and specialist services collaborating with tertiary centres such as Auckland District Health Board, Wellington Hospital, and Christchurch Hospital. Initiatives include immunisation outreach in partnership with Immunisation Advisory Centre and workforce pipelines with training agencies like New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses and vocational bodies such as Te Pūkenga.
Te Aka Whai Ora collaborates with iwi, hapū, marae, kaumātua groups, and community organisations including Te Matatini, Hikurangi Foundation, Ngāti Porou Hauora, Kaupapa Māori Primary Health Organisations, and national NGOs like Māori Women’s Welfare League. Engagement strategies mirror models used by entities like Whānau Ora Commissioning Agencies and employ data partnerships with Health Research Council of New Zealand, University of Auckland, and specialist research centres including Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga. It engages in cross-sector work with Worksafe New Zealand, Ministry of Education (New Zealand), Te Puni Kōkiri, and local councils such as Auckland Council and Waikato Regional Council.
Funding derives from appropriations through annual Budgets involving Ministers of Finance including Grant Robertson and spending reviews akin to those administered across Crown entities such as WorkSafe and NZTA. Accountability is exercised via reporting to Parliament, audits from the Office of the Auditor-General (New Zealand), and performance measures linked to targets in national strategies like Whakamaua. Funding streams intersect with health purchasing agencies such as PHARMAC, capital projects coordinated with Housing New Zealand and procurement rules under the Crown Entities Act 2004.
Supporters cite improved access for iwi providers, reduced disparities highlighted in reports by Health Quality & Safety Commission (New Zealand), and collaborative successes with entities such as Plunket and Auckland DHB. Critics reference concerns raised in media outlets like Newshub, Stuff.co.nz, and debates in the New Zealand Parliament about resource allocation, duplication with Health New Zealand, and governance drawn from issues similar to those in past DHB reforms examined by commentators including Chris Trotter and Campbell Live. Evaluations compare outcomes against indicators tracked by Stats NZ and research published in journals involving contributors from University of Otago and University of Auckland.
Category:Health agencies of New Zealand