The Mahitahi Hauora team were excited to host Minister Kelvin Davis, Minister Peeni Henare, Minister Willie Jackson, and Minister Meka Whaitiri on Friday for a special announcement.

The event was attended by Māori health providers from across Tai Tokerau.

During the visit, Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare announced a $30 million investment into the Māori Provider Development Scheme, the biggest uplift since the scheme was established in 1997. The additional funding will support Māori providers to lift their capability, capacity, and service sustainability. The funding will provide back-office support to providers and sustain capital infrastructure. It will support the hiring and retention of a qualified and trained workforce and develop new service delivery methods specifically for Māori.

Minister Henare thanked Mahitahi Hauora and Māori health providers for their mahi.

“Mahitahi Hauora, like our many Māori providers across Aotearoa, takes a broader approach to address the wider determinants of wellbeing, including social, economic, and environmental factors. To do this, they collaborate with whānau, iwi, community, and health and social service providers, to identify and design the services and resources for each community.

“This is the model that best represents the future of a health system that meets the needs of our iwi, hapū and whānau, and is why Budget 2022 is investing an additional $30 million into supporting the development of Māori Providers nationwide,” he said.

“We know to get better health outcomes for Māori we must listen to those who are on the frontline pursuing that goal every day. I applaud the work Mahitahi Hauora and all Māori providers have undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic, but now it is time for us to come together to reform our health system to meet the needs of our communities.

“I look forward to working with our Māori Providers to develop new models of care that truly meet the needs of our people.”

The ministers also received their influenza vaccinations.

For more information about the announcement, visit Budget 2022 invests $30 million into Māori provider development | Beehive.govt.nz