Last month, Te Kāhui Hauora learned through the media that Cabinet had approved broad changes to the Pae Ora Act (2022), under which Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards were established.
The Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill has now been introduced to Parliament.
It contains sweeping changes and removes key health sector principles, including “… the health sector should be equitable, which includes ensuring Māori and other population groups have access to services in proportion to their health needs; and receive equitable levels of service; and achieve equitable health outcomes.”
The first reading is expected this week, with a submissions process to follow. Health Minister Simeon Brown has indicated he wants the new legislation in place by the end of the year 2025.
Te Kāhui Hauora consider the new bill an abrupt departure from what was intended when IMPBs were established, and from assurances given under the previous health minister, Shane Reti, as to the future of IMPBs.
We have outlined some of the key amendments below.
Key amendments:
- Reshapes the role, function and mandate of IMPBs: IMPBs will no longer be required to evaluate local Māori health, work with Te Whatu Ora and monitor the performance of local services.
- Redefines the purpose of IMPBs to focus on localised representation.
- Requires IMPBs to report to the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee, rather than Health NZ.
- Removes the requirement for Health NZ to engage with IMPBs when setting kaupapa Māori investment priorities.
- Ends Health NZ’s statutory requirement to work directly with IMPBs.
- Maintains a support obligation to IMPBs and provision of information to Māori, but not active collaboration.
- Elevates HMAC’s advisory role to include both Minister and Health NZ.
- Imposes a requirement for Health NZ to consider HMAC’s advice.
- Establishes HMAC as the system interface for Māori community insights.
- In the amended act’s name, the order of the Māori and English language terms would be reversed to become the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Act 2022.
- Removes health sector principles, including “… the health sector should be equitable, which includes ensuring Māori and other population groups have access to services in proportion to their health needs; and receive equitable levels of service; and achieve equitable health outcomes.”
- Appointment requirements for the Public Health Advisory Committee are being changed. The committee will no longer be collectively required to have expertise in population health, health equity, te Tiriti, epidemiology, health intelligence, health surveillance, health promotion, health protection and preventative health.
If any of our stakeholders would like further information, please let us know and we will look at providing an online space to discuss the submissions process.