Iwi Māori Partnership Boards

Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards (IMPB):

• represent local needs and aspirations of whānau Māori living in their takiwā
• support the delivery of services and public health interventions within their respective rohe
• represent connected communities who are best placed to understand their needs to a future of pae ora (healthy futures).

It is the work that happens within their respective rohe that will make a difference. 

The functions of IMPBs are outlined in the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act.

• Engage with whānau and hapū on regional health needs, and communicate the results and insights from that engagement to Health NZ.
• Evaluate the current state of hauora Māori in their rohe of responsibility to determine priorities for improving hauora Māori.
• Work with Health NZ in developing priorities for improving hauora Māori.
• Report on the hauora Māori activities of Health NZ to Māori in the area covered by the iwi-Māori partnership board.

They play a key role in working with Health NZ to understand the health needs of the communities in their area. They will also have critical input into local planning.

Health NZ's role

Health NZ has a statutory obligation to engage and support IMPBs. They also have an obligation to engage with IMPBs when determining health priorities for Māori.

IMPBs are the most visible and recognised expression of tino rangatiratanga in the new system and reflect Te Tiriti partnership in a practical way.

They strengthen the overall health system to ensure Māori voices are heard in decision-making that affects Māori health. 

• Te Taumata Hauora o Te Kahu o Taonui — Tai Tokerau-Tāmaki (Northland and North, West and Central)external link
• Ngaa Pou Hauora oo Taamaki Makaurau — South Aucklandexternal link
• Te Tiratū — Waikato-Tainuiexternal link
• Te Moana a Toi, Mataatua — Bay of Plentyexternal link
• Tairāwhiti Toitū Te Ora. — Tairāwhitiexternal link
• Te Taura Ora ō Waiariki — Te Arawa (Rotorua)external link
• Tūwharetoa — Tūwharetoa (Taupō)external link
• Te Punanga Ora — Taranakiexternal link
• Te Mātuku — Whanganuiexternal link
• Tihei Tākitimu — Tākitimu (Hawkes Bay)external link
• Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua — Manawatūexternal link
• Te Karu o te Ika Poari Hauora — Wairarapaexternal link
• Ātiawa Toa — Greater | Te Upoko o te Ika (Wellington, Hutt, Porirua and Kāpiti)external link
• Te Kāhui Hauora o Te Tau Ihu — Nelson and Marlboroughexternal link
• Te Tauraki — Ngāi Tahu (South Island, except Nelson or Marlborough)external link

IMPBs are established through a 3-step process that encompasses tikanga and mana motuhake.

The following mentions Te Aka Whai Ora, The Māori Health Authority, which is now disestablished. Ministry of Health and the Director General of Health are now responsible for the roles Te Aka Whai Ora held.

Appoint

IMPB members are nominated by local iwi-Māori. Those nominations were then mandated by iwi and mana whenua. Each Board also include representatives from:

• iwi
• mātāwaka - local Māori who live in an area they might not whakapapa to
• community members with relevant hauora expertise.

Support

Te Aka Whai Ora supported the development of their constitutional and governance arrangements to comply with the Pae Ora Act.

Approve

The Board of Te Aka Whai Ora:

• considered whether the emerging IMPBs met the criteria in the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022
• advised the Minister of Health they were satisfied all criteria had been met.

The Minister recommends an Order in Council and that recommendation is signed by the Governor General. The IMPBs were formally listed Section 31 Recognition of iwi-Māori partnership Boards.

The IMPB Health Profiles Volume One and Two provide each IMPB with the most up to date snapshot of Māori health data specific to each of the 15 IMPBs.

The data in these profiles build on the legacy of Māori-led health data from the Hauora: Māori Standards of Health series to Tatau Kahukura and the 2015 DHB Māori Health Profiles.

Iwi-Māori Partnership Board Health Profiles Volumes 1 and 2external link