We're committed to advancing Māori health and equity through our strategic frameworks and constitutional obligations. Achieving equitable outcomes requires partnership grounded in tino rangatiratanga, shaped by evidence and lived experience, and accountable to Māori communities. 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi 

Māori health and wellbeing in Aotearoa is grounded in the constitutional context of:

• He Whakaputanga (1835): affirmed Māori independence and tino rangatiratanga
  


• Te Tiriti o Waitangi (1840): enabled British governance (kāwanatanga) while protecting Māori authority and rights

Because over 500 rangatira signed the te reo Māori text, and because it reflects the understanding reached, interpretive weight is given to the Māori text under the principle of contra proferentem.

Te Tiriti is composed of 3 articles: 

1. Kāwanatanga – enabled British governance (kāwanatanga), while not ceding Māori sovereignty or tino rangatiratanga 
   
   
2. Tino Rangatiratanga – guaranteed the ongoing authority of whānau, hapū and iwi Māori over their taonga, including whenua, wai, flora, fauna, fisheries, te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, and cultural practices


3. Oritenga – affirmed equality of rights and protections for Māori, extending British citizenship while retaining Māori authority 

Waitangi Tribunal – Hauora Report (2019)

The Waitangi Tribunal, which investigates Crown breaches of Te Tiriti, reported that Crown policies have directly contributed to persistent inequities in Māori health and that the Crown has failed to actively protect Māori health. The Tribunal recommended the Crown to adopt and give effect to the Te Tiriti consistent principles:

• Tino Rangatiratanga – guaranteeing Māori self‑determination and mana motuhake in the design, delivery, and monitoring of health services 
  
  
• Equity – committing to achieving equitable health outcomes for Māori 
  
  
• Active Protection – acting proactively to eliminate inequities in Māori health 
  
  
• Options – providing for, funding, and resourcing kaupapa Māori health services and supporting the expression of hauora Māori 
  
  
• Partnership – ensuring Māori are co‑designers of the health system alongside the Crown

Policy and advocacy work

We advocate for Māori health and wellbeing and for policies to reflect the priorities of our Māori physician caucus.

Partnerships

We maintain longstanding health-focused relationships with many Māori health organisations and individuals. These partnerships empower the work of the Māori Health Committee and strengthen the College’s cultural capability and the provision of culturally safe best practice approaches in our activities across education, policy development and advocacy.

Partners we work with

Te Ora – Māori Medical Practitioners

Te Ora represents Māori doctors, researchers, teachers and medical students across Aotearoa. It's a well-established Māori professional network offering a wealth of knowledge and experience. Every year it provides a range of support and development opportunities to support the careers of Māori medical practitioners and advocates for issues that matter for Māori in health.

Te Oranga – National Māori Medical Students Association

Te Oranga provides a range of opportunities throughout the year for students from medical schools to form strong, connected relationships bound by a desire to provide healthcare that meets the needs of Māori.

Te Oranga is also a voice and student advocate on health, political and social issues in Aotearoa. We're working collaboratively to advocate for the rights and aspirations of Māori medical students.

Pūhoro

Launched in 2016, Pūhoro supports rangatahi engagement in STEMM by strengthening the connection between mātauranga Māori and science, improving academic achievement, and creating pathways into high-value careers through strategic partnerships.

Our partnership reflects a shared commitment to building a strong, ongoing relationship to support more rangatahi Māori into medical pathways. A key part of this is increasing access and exposure through the Ngā Rangatahi Hauora | Future Health Leaders fund.