Health Minister Shane Reti intervenes to scrap Hawke’s Bay health policy targeting Māori and Pasifika

Dr Shane Reti

9 Sep 2024

NZ Herald

Young Māori and Pasifika in Hawke’s Bay are no longer eligible on the basis of their ethnicity to receive some free healthcare services after the Health Minister intervened and demanded the policy be changed.

In August, Health New Zealand’s regional arm, OurHealth Hawke’s Bay, posted to its website about Health NZ’s efforts to refine the criteria used to fund additional free GP and registered nurse healthcare services in the region for young people aged 14-24 years.

The initial post said the eligibility criteria included anyone in that age group who was Māori or Pasifika. It also included those who held a community services card, lived in the most deprived areas or were diagnosed with one of several long-term conditions such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

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Key issues

HEALTH SERVICES AND SYSTEMS

Covering developments in the provision, funding and organisation of health care services.

EQUITY

Exploring the impacts of the health system on minorities within the population, notably including Māori, Pacifica, Asians and LGBTQI.

DRUGS, DEVICE AND DIAGNOSTICS

Covering prescription medicines and medical devices.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Focusing on efforts to promote health and prevent disease through social and economic interventions.

DIGITAL HEALTH

Exploring the potential digital transformation to provide a more connected and accessible health system.

TE TIRITI

Monitoring how the health reforms and the performance of the health sector uphold Te Tiriti obligations.