Media release

From: Pasifika Medical Association Group

This article makes a case for Māori organisations to investigate developing hospitals in addition to current hauora primary care services. During our programme of research on kaumātua health and wellbeing, we heard from older Māori who experienced hospital stays as detrimental to their wellbeing. Our observations are backed up by other research demonstrating adverse outcomes for Māori at New Zealand’s public hospitals. Historical attempts to develop Māori hospitals were stymied by the health authorities of the time. We argue that hospitals developed by and for Māori are a long-held dream that could well be enacted in today’s health service environment.