The Maori Health Strategy was set up in 2002, being tied to the New Zealand Health and Disability Strategy and the New Zealand Primary Health Care Strategy, both of which had been recently amended (Walton 2007). The Maori Health Strategy addresses the significantly worse off health status of Maori and attempts to rectify inequalities stemming from the maintenance of unequal distributions of the determinant of health (Signal 2008; Harris et al. 2006).
The Maori Health Strategy is the long term plan set by the government for DHBs, but also includes Action Plans, which are short term plans advising stakeholders how to implement the Strategy. These assert the DHBs as taking a lead role, who are then responsible for implementation (Ministry of Health 2006). The Maori Health Strategy has relationships with the DHBs, PHOs, Public Health Units, Maori Providers, NGO and voluntary organisations, local government, government agencies and crown entities (Ministry of Health 2006).
The Maori Health Strategy implies a holistic approach to addressing Maori health, where it is expected that services from a range of organisations will be provided, including engaging those outside the health sector. This is to achieve the overall aim of the strategy, Whanau Ora, or ‘Maori families supported to achieve their maximum health and well being’ (Ministry of Health 2002).
Please see the Maori Health Strategy section on the Ministry of Health website for further detail.