Iwi Māori Council

On September 27, 2017 the Waikato DHB Board and the Iwi Māori Council signed their revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The significance in the signing of this document is the recognition of the special relationship between the Waikato DHB and Iwi.

The Iwi Māori Council has since 2000, worked together with the DHB engaging on and for Māori Health.

Iwi members to the Council are: Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato-Tainui, Raukawa and Hauraki from Tainui Waka and are joined by Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Whānganui, and Māta Waka (Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa). Our Kaunihera Kaumātua Chair joins the Council and brings also Tikanga guidance.

The number one priority of the Waikato DHB in its Strategy is Radical Improvement of Māori Health by eliminating health inequities for Māori.      

• Iwi Māori Council and Waikato DHB memorandum of understanding [PDF, 291 KB]

The memorandum of understanding is based on three principles.

Partnership – working together with iwi, hapū, whānau and Māori communities to radically improve Māori health outcomes and reduce Māori health inequities, and to develop appropriate health and disability services.

Participation that requires Māori to be involved at all levels of the health and disability sector, including in decision-making and planning and development roles and the delivery of health and disability services.

Protection which requires the Government to safeguard Māori cultural concepts, values and practices, and to ensure that Māori have at least the same level of health as non-Māori.

Iwi involved in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding were Ngāti Maniapoto, Hauraki, Waikato-Tainui, Raukawa, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Whanganui, Te Rūnanga O Kirikiriroa (Urban Māori Authority) as well as the Kaunihera Kaumātua (cultural advisory committee) .