September 17th, 2024
The Māori Party has condemned the New Zealand government's recent actions to abolish the Māori Health Authority and repeal smokefree laws as a direct attack on the health and longevity of the Māori population. In a statement released today, co-leader and health spokesperson Debbie Ngarewa-Packer highlighted the grave implications of these moves for tangata-whenua, the indigenous people of New Zealand.
"The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day," stated Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, the Maori Party's co-leader and health spokesperson. This move, she argues, significantly undermines the wellbeing and life expectancy of the Māori population.
The big picture: "Our health system sees Māori die seven years earlier than non-Māori. We are two-to-three times more likely to be engulfed with cancer and sixty percent more likely to die after diagnosed," Ngarewa-Packer highlighted, illustrating the stark health disparities that exist between Māori and non-Māori populations in New Zealand.
Why it matters: The abolition of the Māori Health Authority and the rollback of smokefree legislation represent a grave reversal in the progress towards health equity for Māori. "The campaign for a smokefree Aotearoa was led out by Hone Harawira and Dame Tariana Turia in their time in office, setting targets for smokefree 2025," Ngarewa-Packer recalled, emphasizing the critical role these initiatives played in the drive towards reducing smoking rates among the Māori population.
Zoom in: Ngarewa-Packer pointed out the disproportionate impact of tobacco on Māori communities, noting that "Aotearoa was colonised with tobacco and disease. Our communities are plagued by four times more tobacco retailers then others." This saturation of tobacco retailers in Māori communities significantly contributes to the higher smoking rates observed among Māori compared to other demographic groups.
What they're saying: "It is my intent to hold the government to account, and assure Minister Reti keeps his promise to deliver better outcomes than the Māori Health Authority," Ngarewa-Packer concluded, signaling the Maori Party's determination to challenge the government's decisions and advocate for the health rights of the Māori population.
The bottom line: The Māori Party's condemnation of the government's decision to dismantle critical health infrastructure for Māori underscores a broader struggle for health equity and the protection of indigenous rights in New Zealand. As this debate unfolds, the impact of these policy changes on the health and wellbeing of the Māori community remains a central concern.