Tō Tātou Pūkete/Our Health Profile Ethnicity Data

District Health Boards are expected to demonstrate how strategic service planning will support improved system sustainability; achieve equity in health outcomes and ensure fairness in access to and experience of care. Health needs assessments are part of the planning process and are guided by principles set out in He Korowai Oranga - New Zealand’s Māori Health Strategy  and the New Zealand Health Strategy. These include meeting Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations as specified in the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000.  

The Southern DHB aligns health and disability services with He Korowai Oranga. In carrying out its functions, the Southern DHB honours their relationship with Māori and their rights as tangata whenua across our district. A Principles of Relationship - Te Hauroa o Murihiku me Araiteuru is in place between Murihiku and Araiteuru Rūnaka and the Southern DHB. The purpose of Te Hauora o Murihiku me Araiteuru is to improve Māori health and wellbeing outcomes in the Southern district. 

For Te Aro Matewai ki Te Māra o Hauroa – the Southern Health Needs Assessment, this has a number of implications:

• We endeavour to describe the health of Southern District residents compared to that of New Zealand overall, highlight inequalities within the district and between particular groups of the population.
• When possible, we provide information on Māori health needs. 
• When possible, the data sets can be disaggregated using Level one Ethnic Group Codes (Māori, Pacific Island, Asian, NZ European/other).
• We endeavour to report information that aligns with a Māori world view and Māori rights to information that informs on equity and Tiriti responsiveness. We note most of the information in this health needs assessment is derived from routinely collected data sources which may have limitations in being able to inform on wider issues that are of importance for Māori. We recognise these limitations and the need to address this as continuous improvement in the Southern DHB.
• We endeavour to present data in such a way as to inform on the level and nature of inequity, while at the same time avoid deficit-framing in the approach or interpretation.
• We endeavour to involve Māori in the health needs assessment.  We have sought consultation via the Māori Health Directorate, the Rūnaka and a Māori Health Advisor. Continued consultation needs to be an emphasis of this project.
• It is envisaged that this needs assessment will be a living document and its content regularly updated as new data become available.  The data sources are described in more detail in the data dictionary.