Did the Ministry of Health seek advice, input, and engagement from Māori health stakeholders as part of the amendments to health practitioner legislation, and if so, which organisations were consulted?

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Health undertook targeted engagement with stakeholders as part of a review of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act. This included outreach to Māori professional organisations, such as Tae Ora Tinana and Ngā Maia Māori Midwives Aotearoa. Additionally, the Ministry published a discussion document titled Putting Patients First: Modernising health workforce regulation. Through this public consultation about 9% of submissions were made on behalf of organisations, including Māori professional organisations.