Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Whai tikanga Tiriti

We’re committed to ensuring our health system meets it’s obligations under Te Tiriti

As a Māori-led organisation we are committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles

The guarantee of tino rangatiratanga, which provides for Māori self-determination and mana motuhake over their taonga, including their people and tikanga;
The principle of equity, which requires the Crown to commit to achieving equitable health outcomes for Māori;
The principle of active protection, which requires the Crown to act, to the fullest extent practicable, to achieve equitable health outcomes for Māori;
The principle of options, assuring Māori of the right to choose their own social and cultural path in accordance with tikanga Māori;
The principle of partnership, which requires the Crown and Māori to work in partnership in the governance, design, delivery and monitoring of services.

We will continue to take a leadership role and challenge policy makers to better align the New Zealand health system with its Treaty of Waitangi obligations.

We believe a more radical health system change is required, one that is grounded in the Treaty partnership guaranteed to Māori.

Advocating for social change and keeping the pressure on for an equitable, Treaty compliant, health system has led us to take a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal. Our claim is centred around the gulf between the kaupapa of hauora, mana whānau, whānau ora and what the health system currently provides for Māori.

Te Kereme 2687

The WAI 2687 Claim

The Wai 2687 claim was launched under the belief that inequity and institutionalised racism in the health system currently exists and that the situation must change.

Our position is based on national Māori health statistics and status which is evident of the Crown failure under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, to care for Māori health and wellbeing. Certainly we believe that “Mana Motuhake” – self determination, and Māori autonomy produces better health outcomes and saves lives.

We as claimants are seeking recommendations from the Tribunal for legislative reform of the system for Māori to have autonomy of their own healthcare services to organise, develop and deliver.

We believe the Crown did not establish the health system to work for Māori. By elevating Mana Motuhake it enables the claimants to determine solutions that work for whānau given the extensive knowledge that they possess. The effect is Tino Rangatiratanga, Māori will take responsibility for Māori health and well-being.

“The ultimate solution lies in constitutional reform based on Te Tiriti o Waitangi that entrenches equity of outcome and Māori participation in achieving this. In the meantime legislative reform and public policy change is required ensuring Māori health is adequately resourced – so we can see Māori thrive.”

~ Simon Royal, named claimant in Wai 2687 and former NHC Tumu Whakarae