Hundreds of whānau from across Te Tauihu have shared their experiences of hauora with us. Now we’re taking that kōrero forward.
Between December 2025 and June 2026, 584 whānau took part in Whānau Voice 2.0, sharing what is working well within the health system, where things are difficult, and what they want to see change.
More than 800 pieces of kōrero were shared alongside the survey responses. We read and considered every one.
He mihi nui ki a koutou katoa who gave your time, shared your whakaaro and trusted us with your experiences.
Some of what we heard was positive. Whānau told us about health professionals who listen and care, relationships built on trust, and kaupapa Māori providers making a real difference.
But we also heard about the barriers whānau continue to face.
Cost. Long waits. Travelling to get care. Trying to work out where to go next. Services that don’t always talk to each other. And whānau having to become advocates, navigators, carers and co-ordinators to make sure the people they love get the care they need.
One whakaaro came to capture much of what we heard: “Equity may not always be experienced as receiving more, but as being left to carry less.”
What whānau want to see change
Whānau told us healthcare needs to work better around their lives.
That means care that is easier to access and navigate. Earlier support before people reach crisis point. Stronger kaupapa Māori services. A supported Māori health workforce. Better communication between different parts of the health system. And care that recognises hauora is about more than a clinical appointment.
Te ao Māori, rongoā, whānau relationships, housing, education, transport, income and connection to community all play a part in our health and wellbeing.
The report makes ten recommendations based on what whānau told us, from designing services around whānau lives and investing in kaupapa Māori models of care, through to changing how services are commissioned and building a more connected health system.
So, what happens now?
Publishing Whānau Voice 2.0 is not the end of the mahi. As the Iwi Māori Partnership Board for Te Tauihu, our job is to make sure the voices of whānau reach the people making decisions about health services, funding and planning.
Over the coming months, we will use what you have told us to guide our advocacy and our work with the health system, Hauora Māori providers, iwi and other partners.
We’ll also soon begin the next round of Whānau Voice.
That matters because we don’t just want to know what things look like today. We want to keep listening, monitor what changes and, over time, be able to answer a very simple question: Is it getting better for whānau?
And you don’t need to wait for the next round of Whānau Voice to talk to us. If you have an experience with the health system, an issue you think we should know about, or something you want to kōrero about, you can contact our Whānau Voice Lead at any time.
Read the Whānau Voice 2.0 report
Read the Whānau Voice 2.0 summary
To every whānau member who shared their time, whakaaro and experiences with us: ngā mihi nui.
Your kōrero has shaped this mahi. Now it’s our job to carry it forward.