To improve health status of Māori, by helping hospitals cater for Māori, retaining Māori who become healthcare professionals and to improve healthcare practices so that Māori values are respected. He Kamaka Oranga (HKO) was established in 1994 with the aim to improve Māori Health. Then in 2013 collaboration of Māori Health services across Auckland and Waitematā DHBs is now He Kamaka Waiora (HKW).
The Chief Advisor Tikanga (CAT) Māori Health leads the organisation in managing relationships with mana whenua and iwi Māori from a tikanga perspective and provides assistance in managing Treaty of Waitangi risks. The CAT role is supported by Waitematā DHB and Auckland DHB Māori Health teams led by the GM Māori Health which are responsible for policy development, research, workforce development, planning and funding, provider management, quality, and clinical leadership across the primary, secondary and tertiary sector.
The introduction of practices based on tikanga Māori have made a significant contribution to Māori Health in the region. The HKW provider team works with Māori patients and their Whānau when they need to access the hospital services. This includes coordinating Whānau accommodation, providing social and cultural and advocacy services and working with Waitematā DHB clinicians and other Waitematā DHB staff to ensure that services are responsive to the needs of Māori Health gain.
He Kamaka Waiora team supports inpatients in North Shore (NSH) and Waitakere (WTH) Hospitals:
Kaumātua: Fraser Toi
Kaumātua Arahi: Cherie Povey
Kaimanaaki: John Tuoro and Mark Tuuta
Kaiatawhai: Roimata Hansen and Elizabeth Campbell