The largest IMPB collective Te Manawa Taki Iwi-Māori Partnership Board came together on Friday for a pivotal regional hui hosted by Te Tiratū IMPB that represents a Māori population of 114,990, making it the largest of the six boards.
"Our focus is very intentional to ensure efficacy,” said Te Tiratū IMPB co-chair Hagen Tautari. “We amplify Whānau Voice, so local whānau priorities are genuinely heard, seen and valued in health service design and delivery.”
Despite the ongoing uncertainty while the newly established Health Assurance Unit review proceeds, Iwi Māori Partnership Boards remain steadfast in their commitment to advancing their work programme to deliver better patient outcomes for whānau given the well-documented grave Māori health inequities.
New Health Minister Hon. Simeon Brown was invited but due to other commitments was unable to attend.
A Private Secretary passed on “his apology and best wishes for a successful event”.
Held in Kirikiriroa, the forum featured briefings from senior public service leaders and board members representing Pharmac, Toitū te Waiora Workforce Development Council, Midland Te Manawa Taki Regional team from Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, Hauora Māori Service Directorate from Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, and the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC) that advise the Minister of Health.
Rangatira from Te Tiratū IMPB (Tainui Waka, Ngāti Haua & Mātāwaka), Te Taura Ora o Waiariki IMPB (Te Arawa), Te Moana a Toi IMPB (Bay of Plenty), Tūwharetoa IMPB, Te Pūnanga Ora IMPB (Taranaki) and Toitu Tairāwhiti IMPB shared updates tracking progress on their work programmes.
Discussions underscored the power of a collective approach, strengthening relationships within the health system, and focusing on the fundamentals to drive real change—to ensure greater accessibility, true equity, and improved health outcomes for Māori.
Selah Hart, Interim National Director of the Hauora Māori Service, reinforced the critical need to integrate IMPBs into decision-making structures, given their legislative responsibility under the Act to monitor and represent local Māori perspectives in the design and delivery of services and public health interventions.
“Our kōrero provided valuable insight into the needs and expectations of the region as we navigate our joint work and responsibilities ahead,” she said afterwards in her stakeholder pānui.
Currently the Ministry of Health Manatū Hauora is redesigning the Hauora Māori Strategy following extensive public consultation that Hart reported had attracted over 1,500 submissions.
It will replace Pae Tū, the interim framework introduced as part of the broader Pae Ora strategies in 2023.
Pharmac representatives, including Kaituruki Māori Director Trevor Simpson and Board member Talia Tiori Anderson-Town outlined the opportunities for earlier Māori engagement in pharmaceutical decision-making in the Request for Proposal process.
"When seeking approval and feedback, we see those advocating and providing a Māori perspective - but at times, that voice is absent,” Anderson-Town said. These gaps often result in the reliance on system data, which is not always available.
Set to take effect tomorrow, Pharmac has announced funding for additional cancer medicines. Te Tiratū has identified cancer screening as a top priority due to Māori being 2.0 times more likely than non Māori to die from any cancer in Waikato District.
Te Whaioranga Pharmac’s Māori Responsiveness Strategy, outlines support for whānau Māori to achieve better health through access to and effective use of medicines and medical devices.
One point raised in response was the need for Primary Health Providers to ensure they are prescribing the most suitable medications for whānau Māori.
