Racial bias in health revamp, MP claims

The Northland District Health Board has been accused of making "racially based" decisions in carrying out a major revamp of its management structure.

Northland MP John Carter has questioned why Northland Health is restructuring all its managerial positions, except two key Maori positions and the job of chief medical adviser.

But the DHB says the restructure was about delivering health services to the people of Northland, not about individuals.

Of the 19 managers, 16 had been asked to reapply for their jobs, Mr Carter said.

Apart from the stand-alone position of chief medical officer, the only managers who did not have to reapply were the general manager of Maori Health and the group manager Maori Directorate.

"Why are these last two positions not being restructured when they are in exactly the same circumstances as the other 16 managerial jobs," Mr Carter said.

There appeared to be no logical explanation for the two positions being left out of the restructure other than they were Maori- based and the chairman of the Northland District Health Board was also the chief executive of Te Tai Tokerau Mapo Trust, which co-funded Maori health programmes in Northland, he said.

"These kind of decisions shouldn't be taken on racial grounds. Staff have the right to be treated equally. I can only conclude that it is a racially based decision."

Mr Carter said he had written to the Northland DHB about the issue and was awaiting a reply.

"If I do not get a satisfactory answer it may be raised to Parliament."

However, Northland Health chief executive Karyn McPeake said the restructure was about delivering health services to the people of Northland, not about individuals.

"Decisions should not be made on racial grounds and have not been in this case."

The chief executive and the Maori Directorate had agreed that "due to the nature of the work involved, in that it was significantly different from the clinical focus of the other group managers, that the two positions would not be disestablished".

"The change process is not an easy one. We have been very aware of this and have treated staff fairly and with respect and made support available."

- NZPA