Iwi Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs)

• IMPBs represent local needs and aspirations of whānau Māori living in their takiwā.
• They support the delivery of services and public health interventions within their respective rohe. 
• IMPBs represent connected communities who are best placed to understand their needs to a future of pae ora.
• Their purpose and functions for can be viewed in the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022

There are currently 15 iwi Māori partnership boards representing iwi from across the country, discussions are in progress to establish two more.

• Te Taumata Hauora o Te Kahu o Taonui, Tai Tokerau & Tāmaki 
• Te Moana a Toi, Mataatua
• Ngaa Pou Hauora oo Taamaki Makaurau, South Auckland
• Te Tiratū, Waikato-Tainui
• Tairāwhiti Toitū Te Ora, Tairāwhiti 
• Te Taura Ora ō Waiariki, Te Arawa 
• Tūwharetoa, Tūwharetoa
• Te Punanga Ora, Taranaki
• Te Mātuku, Whanganui
• Tihei Tākitimu, Tākitimu Hawkes Bay
• Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua, Manawatū
• Te Karu o te Ika Poari Hauora, Wairarapa
• Ātiawa Toa, Greater Wellington/Hutt
• Te Kāhui Hauora o Te Tau Ihu, Nelson/Marlborough; and 
• Te Tauraki, Ngāi Tahu

Please note: post enactment of the Pae Ora Amendment Bill on 1 July 2024, Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health and the Director General of Health are now legislatively responsible for the roles held previously by Te Aka Whai Ora, Māori Health Authority and the Te Aka Whai Ora Board.

Fifteen IMPBs have been established through a three-step process that encompasses tikanga and mana motuhake.

Appoint - IMPB members were nominated by local iwi-Māori. Those nominations were then mandated by iwi and mana whenua. Each Board also include representatives from iwi, mātāwaka (local Māori who live in an area they might not whakapapa to), and community members with relevant hauora expertise.

Support – Te Aka Whai Ora supported the development of their constitutional and governance arrangements to comply with the Pae Ora Act.

Approve – The Board of Te Aka Whai Ora considered whether the emerging IMPBs met the criteria in the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 and advised the Minister of Health they were satisfied all criteria had been met. The Minister recommends an Order in Council and that recommendation is signed by the Governor General and the IMPBs were formally listed Section 31 Recognition of iwi-Māori partnership Boards

Please note: post enactment of the Pae Ora Amendment Bill on 1 July 2024, Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health and the Director General of Health are now legislatively responsible for the roles held previously by Te Aka Whai Ora, Māori Health Authority and the Te Aka Whai Ora Board.

The functions of IMPBs are legislatively mandated:

• Engage with whānau and hapū on regional health needs, and communicate the results and insights from that engagement to Health New Zealand
• Evaluate the current state of hauora Māori in their region of responsibility for the purpose of determining priorities for improving hauora Māori
• Work with Health New Zealand in developing priorities for improving hauora Māori
• Report on the hauora Māori activities of Health New Zealand to Māori within the area covered by the iwi-Māori partnership board

They play a key role in working with Health New Zealand to understand the health needs of the communities in their area and will have critical input into local planning.

Iwi and mana whenua appoint/mandate representatives in the manner that is most appropriate for the tikanga in their rohe.

• IMPBs are the most visible and recognised expression of tino rangatiratanga in the new system and reflect Te Tiriti partnership in a practical way.
• They strengthen the overall health system to ensure Māori voices are heard in decision-making that affects Māori health. 

• Health New Zealand has a statutory obligation to engage and support IMPBs 
• Health New Zealand has an obligation to engage with IMPBs when determining health priorities for Māori
• Section 15 Health New Zealand must support and engage with iwi-Māori partnership boards