Latest news with #HMAC
Scoop
5 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Te Whatu Ora Offer Further Devalues Māori
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora's removal of both clauses involving Māori from their offer in collective bargaining shows not only disrespect but a spurning of their legal obligations, NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says. New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) has been involved in protracted talks with Te Whatu Ora for months. The new offer from Te Whatu Ora to NZNO members on 30 June failed to include Tikanga Allowance and Kaupapa Māori dispute resolution process clauses. "These clauses were included in the previous offer in May but have been removed without explanation in the latest offer," Kerri Nuku says. "With massive Māori health needs and a huge shortage of Māori nurses this move devalues them and would further motivate them to move on to overseas countries like Australia. With cultural obligations to their community, the big picture is that this would further perpetuate gaps in health care, including Māori continue to die at a faster rate." Te Whatu Ora has an obligation to Māori, starting from Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, she says. These obligations require Te Whatu Ora to actively protect Māori interests, ensure equitable health outcomes, and support Māori self-determination in health matters. "But moves such as these seem to be strategic in the systemic eradication of Māori rights by the coalition Government." Kerri Nuku says two weeks before the offer from Te Whatu Ora, the Health Minister promised changes to the Healthy Futures Act 'would also strengthen the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC)'. "I strongly doubt this is what the HMAC would advise. It seems that they're either speaking with forked tongues, or one hand does not know what the other is up to. "We call on the Minister to encourage Te Whatu Ora to reinstate the clauses back into the offer."
Scoop
14-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
HMAC Welcomes Government Health Changes
Press Release – HMAC Chair Parekawhia McLean said the change allows the committee to provide both Minister and Health New Zealand strong and clear advice on Mori health priorities and support to improve Mori health outcomes. The Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC) welcomes the Government's decision to elevate its role to directly advise Health New Zealand and the Minister of Health on Māori health matters. Chair Parekawhia McLean said the change allows the committee to provide both Minister and Health New Zealand strong and clear advice on Māori health priorities and support to improve Māori health outcomes. 'The Minister has made it clear that the committee's role is to be directly focused on improving Māori health. We accept the challenge. 'The evidence is irrefutable that Māori health needs are huge. It is clear improving Māori health is good for the whole country,' she said. HMAC is also looking forward to working with the Iwi Māori Partnership Boards to support the critical role they play in local health planning and advocating for quality health services and improved outcomes.
Scoop
14-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Putting Patients First: Government To Refocus Health System On Outcomes
Press Release – New Zealand Government This Government is focused on delivery getting the basics right, fixing what the previous Government broke, and ensuring New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. Minister of Health The Government will introduce legislation to ensure the health system is more accountable, more efficient, and focused on delivering better outcomes for patients, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 'After years of bureaucracy and confusion, the health system lost its focus. The previous government scrapped health targets, centralised decision-making with no accountability, while every single health target went backwards meaning patients waiting longer for the care they need,' Mr Brown says. 'This Government is focused on delivery – getting the basics right, fixing what the previous Government broke, and ensuring New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare.' Cabinet has approved a suite of amendments to the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, designed to strengthen the performance of Health New Zealand and ensure a clearer, more accountable system. 'These changes are about improving health outcomes by making sure the system is focused on delivery, not bogged down in doing the same thing twice. That means better care for patients through a more connected, transparent, and effective health system,' Mr Brown says. 'The previous Government's reforms created a bloated system where no one was truly accountable for delivery. We're changing that,' Mr Brown says. 'We're putting health targets into law so every part of the system is focused on delivering faster care, shorter wait times, higher immunisation rates, and real results.' The current legislation is too focused on bureaucracy rather than patients, with multiple charters and plans creating confusion and fragmentation. These reforms repeal the health sector principles and health charter – cutting needless bureaucracy – while requiring each population strategy to give effect to the Government's health targets. Mr Brown says infrastructure delivery was one of the most serious failings under the previous Government. 'Too many builds were delayed, blown out, or never even started. We're addressing this by establishing a dedicated infrastructure committee and embedding infrastructure as a core function of Health New Zealand. This means the board can focus on lifting system performance where it matters most: for patients.' The Minister is also confirming changes to strengthen the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC) and clarify the role of iwi-Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs). 'Local IMPBs will continue to engage with their communities but will now provide advice directly to HMAC. That advice will then support decisions made by the Minister and the Health NZ board. 'These changes are about one thing – putting patients back at the centre. We're rebuilding a health system that delivers real outcomes, not just organisational charts.' The Amendment Bill will be introduced to Parliament in the coming weeks. Notes: Key changes include: Establishing a new statutory purpose to ensure all patients have access to timely, quality healthcare. Legislated health targets to lock in accountability and ensure New Zealand's health system is measured and managed. Requiring all health strategies give effect to these targets. Stronger governance and financial oversight within Health New Zealand. Making the delivery of health infrastructure a core legislated function of Health New Zealand. Establishing a permanent infrastructure committee to carry out functions related delivery of physical health infrastructure by Health New Zealand. The Director-General of Health (or delegate) able to attend Health New Zealand board meetings to support monitoring. Ensuring simplified board appointment rules that select the best person for the job, based on skills and delivery. Clarifying public service integrity rules apply to the Health New Zealand board, CEO, and staff so patients know they're held to the highest standards. Removing audit requirements for the NZ Health Plan, aligning with other Crown entity requirements. Repealing the Health Charter and Sector Principles to reduce red tape and make things clearer for everyone. Enhancing the role of the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC) to provide advice to the Minister and the board of Health New Zealand, that will be taken into account at the national level. Clarifying and streamlining iwi-Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs). IMPBs focus will shift away from local service design and delivery, to engaging with communities on local perspectives and Māori health outcomes. This legislation supports the Government's wider Health Delivery Plan – including reinstated health targets, a record $16.68 billion in funding, faster access to primary care, improved infrastructure delivery, and the recruitment and training of more frontline doctors and nurses.
Scoop
14-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
HMAC Welcomes Government Health Changes
The Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC) welcomes the Government's decision to elevate its role to directly advise Health New Zealand and the Minister of Health on Māori health matters. Chair Parekawhia McLean said the change allows the committee to provide both Minister and Health New Zealand strong and clear advice on Māori health priorities and support to improve Māori health outcomes. 'The Minister has made it clear that the committee's role is to be directly focused on improving Māori health. We accept the challenge. 'The evidence is irrefutable that Māori health needs are huge. It is clear improving Māori health is good for the whole country,' she said. HMAC is also looking forward to working with the Iwi Māori Partnership Boards to support the critical role they play in local health planning and advocating for quality health services and improved outcomes.
Scoop
14-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Putting Patients First: Government To Refocus Health System On Outcomes
Minister of Health The Government will introduce legislation to ensure the health system is more accountable, more efficient, and focused on delivering better outcomes for patients, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 'After years of bureaucracy and confusion, the health system lost its focus. The previous government scrapped health targets, centralised decision-making with no accountability, while every single health target went backwards meaning patients waiting longer for the care they need,' Mr Brown says. 'This Government is focused on delivery – getting the basics right, fixing what the previous Government broke, and ensuring New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare.' Cabinet has approved a suite of amendments to the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, designed to strengthen the performance of Health New Zealand and ensure a clearer, more accountable system. 'These changes are about improving health outcomes by making sure the system is focused on delivery, not bogged down in doing the same thing twice. That means better care for patients through a more connected, transparent, and effective health system,' Mr Brown says. 'The previous Government's reforms created a bloated system where no one was truly accountable for delivery. We're changing that,' Mr Brown says. 'We're putting health targets into law so every part of the system is focused on delivering faster care, shorter wait times, higher immunisation rates, and real results.' The current legislation is too focused on bureaucracy rather than patients, with multiple charters and plans creating confusion and fragmentation. These reforms repeal the health sector principles and health charter – cutting needless bureaucracy – while requiring each population strategy to give effect to the Government's health targets. Mr Brown says infrastructure delivery was one of the most serious failings under the previous Government. 'Too many builds were delayed, blown out, or never even started. We're addressing this by establishing a dedicated infrastructure committee and embedding infrastructure as a core function of Health New Zealand. This means the board can focus on lifting system performance where it matters most: for patients.' The Minister is also confirming changes to strengthen the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC) and clarify the role of iwi-Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs). 'Local IMPBs will continue to engage with their communities but will now provide advice directly to HMAC. That advice will then support decisions made by the Minister and the Health NZ board. 'These changes are about one thing – putting patients back at the centre. We're rebuilding a health system that delivers real outcomes, not just organisational charts.' The Amendment Bill will be introduced to Parliament in the coming weeks. Notes: Key changes include: Establishing a new statutory purpose to ensure all patients have access to timely, quality healthcare. Legislated health targets to lock in accountability and ensure New Zealand's health system is measured and managed. Requiring all health strategies give effect to these targets. Stronger governance and financial oversight within Health New Zealand. Making the delivery of health infrastructure a core legislated function of Health New Zealand. Establishing a permanent infrastructure committee to carry out functions related delivery of physical health infrastructure by Health New Zealand. The Director-General of Health (or delegate) able to attend Health New Zealand board meetings to support monitoring. Ensuring simplified board appointment rules that select the best person for the job, based on skills and delivery. Clarifying public service integrity rules apply to the Health New Zealand board, CEO, and staff so patients know they're held to the highest standards. Removing audit requirements for the NZ Health Plan, aligning with other Crown entity requirements. Repealing the Health Charter and Sector Principles to reduce red tape and make things clearer for everyone. Enhancing the role of the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC) to provide advice to the Minister and the board of Health New Zealand, that will be taken into account at the national level. Clarifying and streamlining iwi-Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs). IMPBs focus will shift away from local service design and delivery, to engaging with communities on local perspectives and Māori health outcomes. This legislation supports the Government's wider Health Delivery Plan – including reinstated health targets, a record $16.68 billion in funding, faster access to primary care, improved infrastructure delivery, and the recruitment and training of more frontline doctors and nurses.
