After almost two years of discussions between the Otago District Health Board and local runanga, a Maori health governance structure has been established, which will aim to improve the wellbeing of Maori in Otago.
An iwi governance committee, Te Haurora o Otakou, and a management advisory group on Maori health will be formed.
Committee membership will comprise a representative from each of the four runanga and four board members, and it will hold monthly public meetings.
The functions of the group will include giving advice to the committee on the health needs of Maori in Otago and ensuring the board's services are accessible and appropriate to Maori.
Board member Tahu Potiki said gaining membership of this group would be a competitive process in which people would apply to be a member.
Once established, it would review the Maori health plan, which is due to run out in 2010.
As Otago had a small Maori population, the board often "got carried away" with national objectives in Maori health, which could be a long way from what local need actually was, Mr Potiki said.
Large Maori population groups, such as those in South Auckland, could skew the national data and the advisory group would need to discover the unique needs for Maori in Otago.
While health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes, were an important focus, it had been found in Southland there were some major issues in cancer and respiratory conditions, said Mr Potiki, who is also a member of the Southland District Health Board.
"We found we were remarkably successful in things like immunisations."
The board's approval of the Maori health governance structure means the Maori health manager position, which has been vacant since 2007, can now be filled.
This position will be a regional position across Otago and Southland.
