The scrapping of Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority, as outlined in the National Party’s 100 Day Action Plan released in early October, could be easier said than done.
That’s the response from senior Māori member of Te Whatu Ora, as well as former chairman of Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, Rob Campbell.
He believes it’s unfeasible to disestablish the authority within 100 days and called the plan a "political stunt" saying it could take a number of years before the bill gets to Parliament.
"It’s going to be quite an extended period of pointless stress and pointless cost, when the organisation was never meant to be demonstrating effectiveness by this stage anyway," Campbell said.
Rahui Papa, Pou Tikanga Advisor for Te Aka Whai Ora, said he’s worried about what would replace the organisation if it were made redundant.
“Ko taku āwangawanga, kāore anō au kia rongo i tētahi rautaki whakakī-ā-puta, nō reira mate atu ana he tētē kura, kei hea te tētē kura e ara mai nei? (My worry is that I haven’t heard anything [from the govt] about a strategy moving forward, so if this health service is disestablished, what will take its place?)"
Furthermore, Papa said the decision to scrap the authority altogether will involve large amounts of resources and money.
"Koia nei te āhuatanga e kī mai nei a David Seymour rāua ko Chris Luxon, kāore rāua te hiahia whakamoumou moni, anā, ko te mahi tuatahi e whakamoumou moni (Both David Seymour and Christopher Luxon have said that they don’t want to waste money, yet the first thing they will do is waste money)."
Te Karere has contacted the National Party on this matter but have received no response and incoming prime minister Christopher Luxon was not available to comment.
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