Coming up on Te Karere The coalition government has sacked the board of Te Whatu Ora and replaced them with acommissioner due to concerns of significant financial overspending. As the conflict continues in Palestine, in Aotearoa a community in Hawke's Bay has been taking to protest for nine months to raise awareness for the plight of the people of Gaza. Our Olympics reporter Harata Brown follows after our Māori athletes who will take on the world. 23 July 2024 Tēnā koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. The sacking of the Health NZ board and the appointment of a new health commissioner has sparked heated debate at parliament as Māori MPs have great concerns for Māori health outcomes going forward under a new model. Te Okiwa Mclean has more. As the NZ Health Board is disestablished, a new health commissioner stands. Will Māori benefit under this new commissioner? No. Well what's been seen across all Governments, whether blue or red there is a lot of funding that we don't get. Māori MPs are concerned for the future of Māori health outcomes. It comes as the minister of health sacked the formerd board and appointed a health commissioner. The problem I can see is that there is not one thing that's in place to protect Māori health. And while the board have been dismissed, the minister has kept some of the Māori board members to influence decision making but more so to keep a Māori world view in its day to day mahi. The reason why we put some Māori on some boards is so that they are able to lead right from the front, leading in health issues. If some are held some are put into the milieu for nothing. At the end of June, the Māori Health Authority was officially disestablished, it was set up due to damning health outcomes for Māori in the general health system. The question is how will health outcomes for Māori be under this new approach? The commission term is set for the next twelve months and only then we'll know whether health outcomes for Māori will improve or continue to fail. Te Okiwa Mclean, Te Karere. The coalition government has sacked the board of Te Whatu Ora and replaced them with a commissioner due to concerns of significant financial overspending. However, sacked chairman Rob Campbell says the board wasn't the problem at all. Marena Mane has the detail. An overspend of 130 million dollars a month and the government gets called in to intervene. Minister of Health Shane Reti has replaced the board with a commissioner blaming what he called the previous government's mismanaged health reforms. In a statement to Te Karere, Minister of Health Shane Reti says he believes that Commissioner Professor Levy will be able to ensure financial balance, besides the board that he has just got rid of. Former chair of the board Rob Campbell says the board isn't relevant to the mismanagement, it's actually at a more senior level. Health NZ CE, Margie Apa claims that despite the overspending and mismanagement, Māori health funding is being accounted for to benefit Māori health outcomes. Commissioner Lester Levy will begin his 12month term tomorrow and will appoint an addition three deputy commissioners in the near future. Marena Mane, Te Karere. To discuss further on health, let's turn to Green Party MP Huhana Lyndon. Welcome to the show, tēnā koe. Tēnā koe, otirā tēnā koutou katoa. Health Minister Shane Reti has sacked Te Whatu Ora’s board and has established a commissioner because of mismanagement of financials. What do you think? Yes, well the board is not to blame. The former board chair is correct. It's due to the lack of funding I think. And in my view this is the Government is looking to cut funding, but I think the solution is to ensure Te Whatu Ora is funded adequately. From this cut, where's the space for Māori health? Where is the space for employees such as nurses and doctors? Indeed where is the voice of the community because there's only one person in charge now with Lester Levy. That's a problem if it's just one person in charge of every aspect of health for the country. Also as we heard in the reports that have just played out, that some of us are concerned, including members in parliament with the increase of Māori health. Māori health could be in trouble with this developing situation in NZ's health sector, right? Yes, the focus of this government now is to cut down on funding, so what's the strategy now? Yesterday I heard the Minister and the Prime Minister talking about splitting Te Whatu Ora into four regions. So, I'm concerned with this new view, and in all of this where is the increase of funding for Māori health? I see Darlene Tana is back at Parliament today. She's back in the house, however, she's seated at the back. How are you the Greens finding it with her returning to the house. No doubt it is difficult for you all to see her again? Yes, I'm disappointed with the actions of my aunty as the Greens have decided she should resign from her post but she's still here. So, my message to her is that she needs to step down and do the right thing. I saw the report that released last week detailing what she did, especially what she did wrong. So, it's important for us as the Greens to find a way forward, and for her to do the same too. You're too right. She should have your wellbeing in mind as the Green Party. Tomorrow the abuse in state care by previous governments report will be presented to Parliament. Do you think this report will achieve what the victims aspire for? Te iwi Māori should be aware more than 3000 people participated in the investigator's investigation into the Government's abuse gainst them. So, tomorrow for them is a large day and their voices will be amplified. What will the Government do? Even though they want to give an apology to right the wrong, what should they be doing, for the last few months, for these survivors. No doubt all of you in Parliament will be extremely saddened with the release of the report to do with the abuses committed. So, I wish my best to all of you tomorrow. I'd like to sincerely thank you Huhana for what you've shared today. Kia ora rā. Nō reira, tēnā koutou katoa. Huhana Lyndon of the Greens. As the conflict continues in Palestine, in Aotearoa a community in Hawke's Bay has been taking to protest for nine months to raise awareness for the plight of the people of Gaza. Question marks still linger over Israel's decision for a ceasefire deal and the death toll in Gaza continues to rise. Moana Makapelu Lee with this story. Out in full force this community in Hastings doing their best to bring attention to the Middle East. We are gathering to stand strong for the world's indigenous peoples. This initiative is primarily for Palestine. They've been gathering here at Hastings's Clock Tower every Sunday since Israel began its aggression in the Gaza strip last year. We've seen on social media they are seeking a ceasefire but we haven't seen anything and so we're going to continue on with this event. Al Jazeera reports close to 40,000 have been killed and close to 90,000 injured since the conflict erupted in October. While air strikes continue in Gaza, this week Israel jets launched their first retaliatory strikes in parts of Yemen, a day after the Yemen rebel group Houthi, launched a drone attack in Tel Aviv killing one person. The war seemingly expanding, with Israel no closer to a ceasefire deal. Those here spreading their message. Standing strong, standing in love, for them, for the indigenous peoples. We're standing just for Palestine, we also stand for Te Tiriti o Waitangi. And promising to not let up until the end. Moana Makapelu Lee, Te Karere. After the break our Olympics reporter Harata Brown follows after our Māori athletes who will take on the world at the Paris Olympics. Stay tuned. Our biggest pool of Māori athletes at the Paris Olympic Games are among the Black Fern Sevens and the All Black Sevens, the women head in to the games as reigning Olympic champions while the men hope to change their silver fortunes this time around. Harata Brown has just touched down in Paris. Let's cross over to her live. Harata, over to you! Yes, Scotty. I've brought my little Tino Rangatiratanga flag all the way from Northland to Paris, France. This'll be the flag that will be urging all of our teams on to success. The first team to hit the field will be the sevens. It's still morning here in Paris with the sun just starting to rise. And so yesterday afternoon I spoke with Māori athletes the first being Risi Pouri-Lane from the top of the South Island and then Andrew Knewstubb. He is also a descendant of Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu. She's the captain of the Black Fern Sevens and the captain also hails from the tip of the Canoe of Maui a proud descendant of Ngāti Apa Ki Te Ra Tō. Titimatoi is the mountain, Te Hoere is the river, Te Hoere is the canoe, Te Hora is the marae, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō is the tribe. This is her second Olympics and she wants her team to remain as the reigning Olympic champions. Both Risi and Andrew here hail from a small town called Riwaka in the South Island. Yet despite the distance to the north, hasn't severed his genealogical links to Ngāpuhi, Te Kapotai, and Waikare. The men will pave the way, they're set to play tomorrow. It's a pleasure to know that both side are strong. There's a little rest for the women's side, because they're set to play China on Sunday, that's Monday for you guys back at home. NZ's rugby sevens teams will be the first to compete in the Olympics here in Paris, France. The hope is that they will bring the gold home. Tomorrow, I'll be speaking with some of the Māori athletes competing in swimming and hockey, Scotty. Great, Harata! I'm looking forward to your next report tomorrow. I can see it is 6:20am so make sure you go and get yourself some breakfast! Thank you so much. Everyone that is Harata Brown in Paris, France. It's New Zealand's attempt at bringing the record for the world's largest haka back home, with the current record having been overseas for a number of years. Dame Hinewehi Mohi officially launched the HAKA campaign today, aimed at bringing together 10,000 people at the country's largest venue to perform one of our most well-known haka - Ka Mate. Ethan Oneroa reports. For a long time the record has been lost to another country. But today the challenge has been laid. Oh, I'm so happy, the doors have opened for the masses. Last year nearly 8000 people did haka in Rotorua. In Masterton it was 6000. The real world record title according to Guinness World Records belongs to the French? Yup, the French, yup, that's what they say. Even though the record is held in France, well, that's what they reckon, but it's a wake up call for us Māori. The group hopes that by September 29, 10,000 people will flood Eden Park, coming together under the banner of unity. Auckland is the city where many of us Māori live, as well as our families from the islands. Secondly, it's the home of rugby. To strengthen our people to come to this park, to stand as one for this haka. No doubt, a massive feat indeed. Ethan Oneroa, Te Karere. After the break we have the weather. To the weather now. That's all we have for today. Kia tau te mauri. Turou Hawaiki. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Māngai Pāho. Copyright TVNZ 2024.