What specific action, if any, has he taken to progress priority nine - iwi-Māori partnership boards are well supported to deliver on their roles and respond to hapori and whānau wellbeing needs - of the population priorities of Maori health?

Answer

The Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill clarifies the role of Iwi‑Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs) and strengthens the relationship between IMPBs, the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee and Health NZ, while retaining Health NZ’s responsibility to support IMPBs to fulfil their functions. The Hauora Māori Advisory Committee has identified support for IMPBs as a monitoring priority; progress on this priority will be advanced once the Amendment Bill is enacted and updated roles are confirmed. As part of our focus on putting patients first and ensuring all New Zealanders, including Māori, have access to timely, quality healthcare, our Government has delivered a range of initiatives to improve health outcomes. These include reintroducing health targets to support faster access to care, strengthening primary care through a number of new initiatives, and funding 66 new medicines - 33 of them cancer treatments - through a $604 million boost to Pharmac.