Those who were expecting a big windfall for the Māori Health Authority will be left disappointed, but there’s no point in funding services that don’t exist, writes political editor Jo Moir
Analysis: There is nothing small about an $11.1 billion investment in health.
The Government described the investment as “landmark reform’’ and when the new Health NZ and Māori Health Authority entities take over the country’s health services in July, all eyes will be on improved results and equity.
But results require a workforce to provide the services, and the most crippling downfall of the health sector currently is a lack of staff.
For Māori health services it is even worse, with many of those who have stepped up to help in recent years needing professional development before they can continue.
Health Minister Andrew Little told Newsroom the Covid-19 Māori vaccination rollout had identified a gap.
“A lot of people have frontline health skills, but a lot of those skills aren’t formally recognised. Part of the workforce development in this Budget will be to work with that workforce and give them the training they need,’’ he said.
Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare said it best when he told Newsroom: “There’s no point commissioning for outcomes when the workforce isn’t there to provide it.”
Both Little and Henare are confident the workforce, and in particular the Māori health provider network, can be built up but are realistic that it will take time.
Both ministers stressed the funding allocated specifically for the Māori Health Authority in Thursday’s Budget isn’t where the money stops.
“When you look at this Budget, don’t assume those that have Māori in front of it are the only allocations that will go through to the Māori Health Authority,’’ Little said.
There is roughly $1.2b already in the system for health services that Māori providers will also have access to over the next four years.
That will alleviate some concerns over the immediate allocation announced on Thursday, which provides just $168 million over the next four years – a far cry from the multibillion-dollar operating budget for Health NZ.
“There’s no point commissioning for outcomes when the workforce isn’t there to provide it.” – Peeni Henare
There is a general optimism from Henare and his Māori ministerial colleagues that the Māori Health Authority will deliver, just not straight away.
That will make it hard leading into the election campaign next year to point to outcomes and results.
Some of the greatest political pressure for Labour's Māori caucus will come from Te Pāti Māori, whose MPs have already voiced their dissatisfaction with the amount of money being offered up to reach equitable outcomes.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi suggested "Jesus Christ will have returned" before Māori reach some kind of equity with the rest of the country.
The Government is aware of the challenge of meeting expectations - Finance Minister Grant Robertson admitted it earlier this month before he’d even announced the Budget.
But with such a small proportion of the huge new investment going to the Māori Health Authority in the next 12 months, the focus will actually be on the success of Health NZ.
Given the workforce supply issues across the entire health sector, a huge drive to recruit in the next 12 months will be top of mind to ensure delivery replaces what has been a postcode lottery under district health boards.
