Support for structure change

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

CENTRAL North Island health boards, including Hauora Tairawhiti, have changed the structure of their regional governance group to include equal iwi representation in an attempt to reduce inequity in health.

Hauora Tairawhiti chairman David Scott told his board the Midland (consisting of Hauora Tairawhiti, Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Taranaki and Waikato health boards) Regional Governance Group had been changed to consist of the five chairpersons (from each health board) and five members of the Midland Iwi Relationship Board (MIRB).

In his written report to the board, Mr Scott said the Midlands wananga “debated, discussed and examined closely the overt and covert aspects of inequity including unconscious bias behaviours”.

Mr Scott said it was a big change in leadership and governance and he hoped the board was supportive.

Na Raihana described the change as ‘‘partnership in action’’.

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Geoff Milner said the inequity in health required such change in governance “if those systemic issues, which contribute towards health inequity, are to change”.

“I support it.”

Hiki Pihema asked if the chairpersons and MIRB representatives had equal status or whether the MIRB reps would act in an advisory capacity.

Mr Raihana said he supported equal participation otherwise it would not be on ‘‘the Treaty pathway’’.

Mr Scott said he understood it was an equal partnership.

Board chairman Jim Green agreed.

“The main signal is having five and five, rather than the current five and one (from MIRB).”

Josh Wharehinga said he supported the change with regional representation from MIRB.

Meredith Akuhata-Brown said people had to understand why unconscious bias continued to exist. It was a tough topic but she supported the change.

Brian Wilson said it was worth giving the change ‘‘a go’’.

“We have talked about equity concerns for many years. We’ve had slow changes. Maybe this is the beginning of a new radical way of doing it. It’s great having an iwi viewpoint sitting around the table. I think it’s a great idea.’’