Te Aka Whai Ora

Te Aka Whai Ora
Māori Health Authority
Formation1 July 2022
Dissolved30 June 2024
Websitehttps://www.teakawhaiora.nz/

Te Aka Whai Ora (English: Māori Health Authority (MHA)) was an independent New Zealand government statutory entity tasked with managing Māori health policies, services, and outcomes.[1][2] The agency was one of four national bodies that oversaw New Zealand's health system since 2022, along with the Ministry of Health, the Public Health Agency, and Te Whatu Ora. They replaced a system in which a single Ministry funded services through 20 district health boards (DHBs).[3]

Riana Manuel was appointed to be the first Chief Executive, which has been a permanent agency since 1 July 2022.[4]

In late November 2023, the incoming National-led coalition government announced plans to abolish Te Aka Whai Ora and return to a single integrated health system. The Government's plans to abolish the agency drew criticism from health professionals and Māori leaders.[5] In mid December 2023, Lady Tureiti Moxon and Janice Kuka filed a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal challenging the Government's dissolution plans.[6] In late February 2024, the Government passed urgent legislation disestablishing the Māori Health Authority by 30 June 2024.[7]

  1. ^ "New Zealand's central government organisations". Public Service Commission. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Home/Kainga". Maori Health Authority. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  3. ^ "The new health system". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Chief executives of interim Health New Zealand and interim Māori Health Authority named". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  5. ^ Bajaj, Simar (6 December 2023). "New Zealand's Indigenous people are furious over plans to snuff out anti-smoking laws". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Legal action over plans to scrap Māori Health Authority". 1 News. TVNZ. 14 December 2023. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  7. ^ Isaac Davison (29 February 2024). "Emotions run high as Māori Health Authority scrapped in urgent debate". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.