As we move through August, Te Tauraki is marking significant achievements and facing some stern challenges.
While we continue building our Whānau Ora commissioning capability, we are simultaneously defending fundamental principles of Māori health governance against legislative threats that could undermine decades of progress.
Standing firm against regressive reform
The Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill represents more than disruptive reform – it constitutes a direct assault on proven mechanisms for Māori health governance. Te Tauraki has responded decisively, submitting two joint responses in opposition: one alongside Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, and another with all 15 Iwi Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs).
This Bill would reduce IMPBs from genuine partners in health system design to mere advisory voices, effectively silencing powerful advocates for communities experiencing the greatest health inequities. It centralises Māori health input under direct ministerial control, eroding the independence and accountability to Māori communities that we have fought to establish.
Our opposition is grounded in evidence. The proposed changes would repeal provisions requiring Te Whatu Ora to engage directly with IMPBs, eliminate independent monitoring powers, and remove requirements for cultural safety and mātauranga Māori integration. This represents a return to failed DHB-era structures where Māori input was peripheral, under-resourced, and lacked influence – the very structures the Waitangi Tribunal identified as contributing to persistent health inequities.
Commissioning progress amid uncertainty
Despite this legislative turbulence, our Whānau Ora commissioning function continues to advance. We have released our comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP) for long-term contracts. The response has been encouraging, with provider workshops attracting strong attendance demonstrating genuine sector engagement.
Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK) has confirmed we are meeting the expectations of Whānau Ora Minister Tama Potaka, particularly regarding greater service reach. Our first annual hui with TPK validated that we are on track with our data-driven, strategic approach towards delivering results. We are now establishing our Regional Investment Committees and determining approaches for Other Whānau Initiatives Funding.
Data sovereignty and monitoring excellence
Our commitment to evidence-based advocacy has been demonstrated through the completion of our 2025 Monitoring Report. This work establishes a kaupapa Māori framework designed to drive meaningful health system transformation, combining robust data analysis with whānau voice to create accountability grounded in values, community voice, and comprehensive care.
The monitoring reveals persistent disparities that demand action: Māori cancer mortality rates of 66.1 per 100,000 compared to 52.8 for non-Māori, cardiovascular disease rates 2.4-2.6 times higher for Māori, and consistently lower screening participation across all programmes. Rather than simply documenting problems, we position these findings as foundations for targeted, transformative action.
We have navigated significant barriers in accessing current health data, with formal requests to Te Whatu Ora submitted in January remaining unfulfilled. Rather than allowing these obstacles to halt progress, we have developed alternative data partnerships with Statistics New Zealand and ACC while advocating for improved access.
Strengthening strategic relationships
Our stakeholder engagement continues expanding strategically. We have secured representation on the GPNZ Primary Care Dashboard Steering Committee and maintain active participation in the Te Waipounamu PHO CEO Collective forum and Te Waipounamu Data Platform. These relationships position us to influence primary care development across Te Waipounamu while ensuring our communities’ voices are heard in system design.
The relationship with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu remains foundational, with regular hui between leadership establishing productive momentum. Our presentation to the Iwi Leaders Pou Tangata has strengthened understanding of our dual roles as both IMPB and commissioning agency.
Piki te ora, piki te kaha, piki te maramatanga
Rakihia Tau, Chair, Te Tauraki