Responding to the needs of Maori and Pacific people
Background Health inequalities are the differences in health status between different population groups that are unnecessary and avoidable. The Canterbury Health System is strongly committed to reducing health care inequalities and improving the overall health status of our more vulnerable populations in Canterbury, particularly Māori and Pacific people. There are many similarities between these two groups, yet some quite distinct differences.
Māori In Canterbury, there are about 33,500 Māori enrolled with general practices, making up seven percent of the total population. Ngāi Tahu/Kāi Tahu is the most common iwi affiliation, although there are over 120 other iwi represented in the region. As a population group, Māori are a diverse, relatively young and growing population with numerous health inequalities across a wide range of disease areas, clinical settings and services. These inequalities persist even after factoring in poverty and education. As a high proportion of Māori access general practice services, understanding our Māori population is vital to be able to provide the best clinical care.
Pacific people Like Māori, the Pacific population is youthful when compared with the non-Pacific population. There are an estimated 11,500 Pacific people
in Canterbury including Samoans, Tongans, Cook Islanders, Fijians, Niueans, Tokelauans and Tuvaluans. Pacific people have poorer health status than the rest of the population and appear to have gained least from changes in primary care delivery. Health indicators for life expectancy, avoidable mortality and hospitalisations suggest that health and disability services are not fully meeting the health needs of Pacific people. Socio-economic determinants also influence Pacific health status but cannot fully explain different outcomes from health care services. While the enrolment of Pacific people with mainstream primary health care services (82 percent) is good, this does not reflect the level of participation and engagement of Pacific people in primary health care and in the wider health service.
Key focus areas There are many areas in which the health system can improve the health of its population. For Māori and Pacific peoples action is required to improve access, responsiveness and quality of care.
Whānau Ora Whānau Ora is a Māori cultural concept that encompasses a wider and more holistic view of health than a focused clinical perspective. Health and wellbeing is described in the context of relationships, social environments and the wider determinants of health. Quality Accounts: Responding to the needs of Māori and Pacific people
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