Maori health and the health care reforms

Abstract

Maori participation in the 1991 health care reforms is considered against the background of their involvement in health reforms since the turn of the century. Throughout this period Maori have consistently sought autonomous health care. Traditional indigenous healers have provided healing for Maori as they, have for other indigenous people, such as Aborigines, Pacific Islands people and Canadian Indians. Maori, including western health care professionals, submitted that healers should be included among the health care services personnel providing core health services. They argued this on the basis of their health status and of their rights with respect to the Treaty of Waitangi. The influence of the 1977 WHO resolution, concerning the role of traditional healers in attaining ‘Health for All by the Year 2000’, is considered in relationship to Maori health initiatives and how the 1991 health care reforms may impact upon them, and the bicultural policy that has guided Maori health developments over the last decade. Evaluating Maori health and the health care reforms in terms of Maori participation, the status of traditional indigenous healers and the future of Maori health initiatives leaves Maori in no doubt that they have some hard work ahead to maintain the position they held prior to the reforms.