Improving Maori Health Policy

Publications

Improving Māori Health Policy

Date of publication: September 2002

Summary
Publication availability
Publishing information

Summary
An evaluation of past Maori health policy and recommendations made by the National Health Committee (NHC) in 2002 for its future direction.

The National Health Committee (NHC) believes Māori health policy has a key role to play in generating Māori health gain. Māori health policy is defined as policy that specifically focuses on aspects of Māori health. However, the policy should be implemented across the health sector, rather than only within the Māori health sector, as the whole sector have a role to play in improving Māori health.

During 2000/2001 the NHC undertook a project that focused on Māori health policy over the previous decade. The project included a high-level analysis of the policy environment and the ability of Māori health policy to impact on Māori health outcomes. The NHC wished to identify what strategies and policies for Māori health had been developed, the characteristics of these policies, and the degree of consistency both internally and with other government strategies and policies outside health. In addition, the NHC looked at processes for developing strategic frameworks, policy and funding decisions, and strategic pathways from needs assessment to policy to implementation.

This paper summarises the findings of the project, discusses the implications for the recent sector health reforms that had occurred prior to the project, and suggests actions that may improve the outcomes of Māori health policy in the future. The paper is in three sections. Part One is an analysis of Māori health policy in the previous decade. Part Two looks at the potential impact of the current reforms on Māori health policy. Part Three sets out a proposed framework for Māori health policy in future.

The paper identifies five “lessons” from the past that the NHC believes have significantly limited the achievement of positive outcomes from Maori health policy. They were: limited implementation of the Treaty of Waitangi within the health sector; no clear framework to underpin Maori health policies; no comprehensive strategy incorporating all necessary Maori health policies; failure to consistently demonstrate responsiveness and leadership by government and its agencies; and in the absence of clear minimum expectations, variability in approaches across regions which in places, have constrained Maori health development.

The report recommends the use of an overarching framework, based on the Treaty of Waitangi, for Maori health policies and strategies. That framework would apply to policy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in all parts and all levels of the sector. The report advocates the use of the Treaty principles of partnership, participation and active protection to guide the use of the framework at all levels of the health sector. It further recommends the use of a comprehensive strategy which will support the development of a range of policies relating to Maori health, such a strategy facilitating a level of national consistency while being sufficiently flexible to allow local health needs to be addressed.

Publication availability
This publication is not available in hard copy. It is only available on this website in PDF format below

Improving Māori Health Policy (PDF, 2 MB)

Go to information about downloading publications

Publishing information
Date of publication: September 2002

ISBN 0-478-10499-5 (Document)
ISBN 0-478-25300-1 (Internet)

HP number: 3568