Breathing life into the treaty - Stories - People's Health Assembly - December 2000
Breathing life into the treaty.
1 The treaty of Wartangi was signed between the Crown and Maori in 1840.
There were two versions an English and a Maori language version. Both said different things. The Maori version has signed under the law of contra preferential is therefore the valid document. However the meaning and intention of various words have been debated vigorously and with little resolve. Therefore the waitangi tribunal, which ruled on land grievances identified several principles of the treaty which are commonly used in its application.
In health they are:
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Participation
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Protection
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Partnership
Another principle which HCA has added in its own applicable of the treaty is two Rangairratanga –self determination.
A. From a Maori perspective participation means participation of family and tribe in planning policy development and evaluation of the services.
J. From a Tauiwi perspective, this means participation of Maori in planning and evaluation plus healthy consultation process included early consultation and checking back (evaluation) and consultation. Consultation with the Mara whenua (people of a specific area) is important.
A. From a Maori perspective, protection means education about the process and effects of colonisation, it means focusing on health gain by evaluation work programmes and having clearly articulated Kaupapa and Tikanga for the service.
J. From a Tauiwi perspective, this means putting in place treaty ??? training on specific knowledge by local people and proactive health promoters and prevention programmes. It also means equitable resource allocation, workforce development strategies to expand the Maori workforce, and basing service development on need. It means collecting information to check that health gain for Maori is indeed happening. It means staff understanding cultural safety and cultural risk (Quate Irehapeti Tawsder Page 49)
A. From a Maori perspective means working with their treaty partners – this means in the year 2000 - the Crowne, really the government and its departments, but can also be extended. All those Tauiwi who are beneficiaries of the Crown. The concept of true partnership involves sharing of power between parties. Partnership with treaty partners involves joint venues, and relationships possibly underpinned by memoranda of understanding.
J. For Tauiwi, this means negotiating formal and informal partnerships with Maori organisations and tribal groups.
A. The Rangahratargi. For Maori this means operating with a mandate from wharau and Hapu (family and tribe), having the power to make decisions that improve health outcomes. In other words setting the direction ourselves. Responding to contracts of our choosing rather than at the whim of the finder.
The Rangahratarga, for Tauiwi is achieved by Tauiwi, actively supporting by Maori for Maori initiatives, and being commuted enough c/o the relationship to take time and energy to work things thru. It also means supporting the concept of caucusing (separate space for Maori and Tauiwi), and incorporating macro culture process into the service.
These then are the ways that we break the life into the treaty, both at a service level and at the level of HCA.
HCA has treaty based consultation, the governing body sis equal representation of Maori and Tauiwi – Alayna and I are here together today not by coincidence but by design.
Having a treaty, has been an effective tool in equalising the power imbalance, as the treaty became enshrined in legislation, so governments had to respond. However it is very early days, 160 years has gone by, but really only the last 10 years have seen a shifting of support towards Maori need. A treaty doesn’t solve everything. There are deep divisions in n2 society about it, many fuelled by racism.
For those with no treaty, are only advise is respect and processes of integrity. Add these to the Primary Health Car Principles and the way forward is remarkably clear.
It works for the following reasons.
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A strong and passionate commitment to the not for profit, community controlled primary health care model.
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A high level of honesty and transparency and willingness to work at any problems.
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Service retain autonomy –we don’t take over.
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Good system –a flat structures and small bureaucracy.
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A philosophy of doing things kanohi – te kanohi. Face to face.
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