Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua Strengthens Health System Accountability Through New Monitoring Reports
Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua Charitable Trust is proud to release a series of monitoring reports that reinforce our statutory role as an Iwi Māori Partnership Board (IMPB) under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.
These reports represent an important milestone in our commitment to ensuring that whānau Māori across our rohe receive equitable, high-quality health care and that the health system remains accountable for delivering on its obligations. Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua covers the regions of Horowhenua, Manawatū District, Palmerston North, Tararua District and Ōtaki.
The monitoring series examines three critical domains of the health system:
Primary and Community Care
Hospital and Specialist Services
Public and Population Health
Together, these reports provide a connected evidence-based picture of how the health system is performing for Māori and where meaningful change is required.
Importantly, the reports move beyond describing inequities as characteristics of communities. Instead, they identify the system factors that continue to create unequal outcomes, including commissioning decisions, service design, and resource allocation. They also examine government health targets critically, highlighting where reported improvements may not reflect genuine equity gains for Māori.
“Monitoring without accountability is just reporting. Where persistent failure is evident and whānau voice consistently describes harm, our role requires stating clear expectations for change” says Naomi Manu, Pitau Whakarei.
Each report sets out specific expectations for improvement and clearly identifies those accountable for delivering change. Across all three domains, accountability rests with Health New Zealand and its relevant service directorates and partners.
These reports are more than an assessment of current performance; they are an accountability instrument. They establish clear expectations and provide a foundation for ongoing monitoring and system improvement.
While the findings identify significant challenges, they also create opportunities for collective action. We acknowledge the many health professionals, providers, communities, and leaders who continue to work tirelessly to improve health outcomes for whānau. Sustainable change will require partnership, transparency, and a shared commitment to achieving equitable outcomes for all.
Over the next six months, Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua will actively monitor the health system’s response to the expectations outlined in these reports. Progress, actions taken, and outcomes achieved will be publicly reported as part of our ongoing statutory monitoring function.
As an IMPB, we remain committed to ensuring that the voices and experiences of whānau Māori inform system improvement and that accountability translates into meaningful change on the ground.
