Te Whatu Ora - stop undermining our communities' future
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As chief executive of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, I stand with our community in unequivocal opposition to the proposed downgrade of obstetrics services at Whakatāne Hospital, as reported on the front page of the Beacon (December 18).
This decision, if implemented, will not only undermine health equity, but will pose an unacceptable risk to the well-being and safety of all families in the Eastern Bay, particularly our Māori whānau and rural communities who already face systemic barriers to health care.
The Eastern Bay is a unique region, characterised by its geographic vastness, rural realities, and a predominantly Māori population. Whakatāne Hospital is not just a healthcare provider; it is a lifeline for our community.
The decision to downgrade obstetrics services, forcing expectant mothers to travel to Tauranga for critical care, disregards the cultural, social, and financial realities of our whānau.
It is a decision that puts incompetence or convenience by Health NZ above the needs of those who depend on these services for survival.
Every year, our township of Whakatāne alone contributes to approximately 650 live births every year, almost two a day – each representing a new life, a new story, and a new future.
If this decision is allowed to go ahead, our data informs us that only 140 women will start and finish their primary care at Whakatāne with the balance of 510 women (80 percent) forced to navigate logistical nightmares, increased support costs, and dangerous delays and travel on a road highway filled with traffic and large freight trucks.
These risks are not hypothetical; they are tangible, immediate, and potentially devastating. Imagine a mother significantly slowed by peak traffic or waiting on limited emergency transport options.
The responsibility for any tragedy arising from this decision must fall squarely on the shoulders of Health NZ decision-makers and the Government that enables these choices.
This move is symbolic of a wider issue: a governance system that prioritises budgets over the holistic well-being of New Zealanders.
Health NZ must answer a simple but powerful question: Are you prepared to accept the human cost of this decision? If not, then stop hiding behind vague assurances of “active recruitment” and “clinical safety” and start addressing the structural inequities you are perpetuating.
On behalf of our communities, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa demand safe and reliable health services for our people.
I ask the people of Whakatāne to not quietly adjust to being treated as second-class citizens.
We call on all local and regional authority leaders, community advocates, and healthcare professionals to join us in rejecting this blatant attack on health equity.
The safety of our tamariki, whānau, and future generations is non-negotiable and together, we can and will hold those in power to account.
Ngā manaakitanga
Reuben Araroa
Chief Executive
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa
Read more:
Life and death situation for pregnant mums
Women and midwives lives put at risk