New era begins for Iwi-Māori Partnership Board
A pōwhiri was held on Monday 4 July for Te Kāhui Hauora o Te Tauihu, the Iwi-Māori Partnership Board for the Nelson Marlborough District.
The Board will consist of one iwi appointed representative from: Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama, Te Ātiawa, Rāngitane o Wairau, Ngāti Kuia and Ngāti Toa Rangatira and two independent appointed representatives to represent the Māori community and health profession.
The Board will play a vital role in working closely with Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority and Te Whatu Ora, Health NZ, in the design and delivery of local health services in Te Tauihu which includes the current boundaries of the Nelson Marlborough District. Locality commissioning from assessing the health needs of whānau, identifying priorities and monitoring the services provided are also core functions of the Board.
Iwi Māori Partnership Boards
What are the Iwi Maori Partnership Boards and why are they important?
Following 1 July 2022, Iwi Māori Partnership Boards will be established throughout Aotearoa as part of the Pae Ora Act.
Each Board has a mandate to keep Te Aka Whai Ora connected with the experiences of their community, and to ensure local perspectives, knowledge, and strength goes into the development of our plans so they are fit for purpose at the local level.
The Iwi Māori Partnership Boards will ensure Te Aka Whai Ora has a direct understanding of the inequities and barriers experienced by specific communities and local providers and is taking action to address these and improve pae ora.
How are the Iwi Māori Partnership Boards established and how is their membership decided?
The Boards are established through a three-step process that encompasses the requirements of tikanga and mana motuhake and the new Pae Ora legislation.
Iwi and mana whenua appoint the members of their Board and complete their Terms of Reference in the manner that is most appropriate for the tikanga in their rohe. The Terms of Refence outlines the boundaries, members, and rules of operation. Each Board will include representatives from iwi, mātāwaka (people who live in an area they might not whakapapa back to), and people with relevant expertise from the local community.
The Māori Health Authority supports each emerging Board to develop their Terms of Reference and is responsible for formally reviewing these and the proposed membership to ensure they comply with the Pae Ora Act. Once that has been completed the Māori Health Authority Board then recommends the Iwi Māori Partnership Boards to the Minister of Health.
Finally, the Minister of Health approves an Order in Council to recognise and list the Iwi Māori Partnership Board in Schedule 3 of the Pae Ora legislation.
The emerging Boards cannot be recommended to the Minister of Health until after 1 July, when the Māori Health Authority is formally established. However, the interim Māori Health Authority has been working with iwi and Māori groups since the middle of 2021 to establish these important local Boards.
Many Boards are already emerging. and have appointed their members and announced their composition to their local communities which is an act of their own mana motuhake. We expect to have around 15 Boards officially recognised and in place in the coming months.
Further information on Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards can be found on Home | Kāinga | Māori Health Authority (teakawhaiora.nz)