Former Māori health minister Peeni Henare says his government could have done more to drive the Māori Health Authority "harder" to produce outcomes before the coalition Government moved in to dismantle the agency.
Speaking to Q+A, the Labour MP was challenged about his government's record on Māori health, and whether Te Aka Whai Ora had made any progress in improving outcomes during its short life as an agency. It was first established in July 2022.
"If there was something that we could have done better, of course, it would be to drive it even harder," Henare said.
"On the ground, it looks like just far greater hands-on with respect to our Maori health providers and the work that we get."
The Government has introduced a bill just days out from a legal challenge against the move. (Source: 1News)
The former minister added, of the agency: "We set some targets. We set some funding. But, like we did with Covid, sometimes you've literally just got to stand right over their shoulder and make sure they're getting the work done. That's how we drove the vaccination."
Would Labour bring back the Māori Health Authority?
Henare confirmed a commitment from his party to re-introduce the agency if elected into government in the future. He said leader Chris Hipkins had made the pledge while at Waitangi last month.
"All the evidence stacks up, and [Hipkins] made a clear commitment. But of course, we've got a job to do over the coming two and a half years, not just to hold the government to account, but also to do the policy planning required as we build for the 2026 election."
Under Parliamentary urgency, the coalition Government disestablished the Māori Health Authority earlier this week. It will officially be gone by June 30 this year.
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti said at the time the legislation heralded the "start of a new vision for Māori health".
Experts believe there have already been "green shoots". (Source: 1News)
"We need function over form, we need results over reports," the minister said.
"The Government intends to shift decision-making closer to communities to allow the people who know their communities best to guide service design and commissioning."
He added: “The narrow focus on disestablishment doesn’t mean an end to our focus on Māori health for those who need it. We know the solutions for Māori communities come from Māori communities - not a centralised Wellington hub."
Henare says he's asked about Labour leadership weekly
The former defence minister was also asked on Q+A about the state of his party.
Following Labour's resounding election loss last year, Henare's name was floated in some quarters as a possible replacement for Chris Hipkins, should the latter have chosen to step down as leader.
Hipkins ultimately chose to stay on as party leader after consultation with his caucus, and has said he will continue as opposition leader until the next general election.
Of potential leadership prospects today, Henare said: "Look, I've always made it clear. I support Chris Hipkins. He's very good."
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Asked if people had spoken to him about becoming Labour leader, he had more to say.
"People do ask me. Maybe every once a week or twice a week — a lot of whānau."
Henare continued: "I've been in politics now for coming up 10 years. I consider myself a senior member of the Labour Party, but as I've always maintained, I support Chris Hipkins. We've got a lot of work to do as a party, and I look forward to doing that."
The list MP refused to say whether he would run for leader, should Hipkins choose to step down before 2026.
"Like I say, I consider myself a senior leader in our team, and I'll be there to play my part."
Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand on Air
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