Abstract:
The three Treaty principles - partnership, participation and protection
now frame policy actions in He Korowai Oranga - Maori Health Strategy
(2002), for the purpose of engaging Maori in the health sector However, the
effectiveness of the Treaty of Waitangi principles in legislation is frequently
disputed. Treaty clauses are often vaguely worded and rarely give the reader
explicit direction as to the actions required. Given the lack of definitional clarity
and the normally indeterminate manner in which Treaty principles are applied in
legislation. the recent use of Treaty principles in Maori health policy raises the
question What do the Treaty principles mean in He Korowai Oranga - Maori
Health Strategy?
How Treaty principles have influenced the shape and effectiveness of
health services, is investigated from the perspective of health service users who
are Maori. Information was gathered from interviews with Maori participants
(n=IO) who diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) within the Auckland Public Health
Region from 2002 to 2005 Participants have considerable experience within the
public health sector, as treatment for TB often requires hospitalisation and a
lengthy period of drug therapy. An analysis of the Treaty principles using
Deborah Stone's policy paradox theory identified key attributes of each Treaty
principles, which was then comparatively evaluated with the experiences of
study participants.
The findings of this research are that Treaty principles have influenced
He Korowai Oranga - Maori health strategy only to the extent of supplying a
framework for enabling Maori involvement within the health sector The
intersection of economic changes, international trends, Maori development and
fiscal imperatives in the health sector has served as more significant influences
Maori providers are at the nexus of these changes Further research is
recommended into the Maori health service user preferences and usages of Maori
Health providers
