8 Aug 2013

Maori health services structure outdated - coalition

7:41 pm on 8 August 2013

A Maori health coalition says the structure of Maori health services is outdated and it wants to see less money spent on management and more on front-line staff.

Te Taumata Hauora O Te Aroha along with Nelson Marlborough District Health Board (DHB) have started hosting public forums to discuss how to provide better Maori health services for the top of the South Island.

The DHB's director of Maori health Harold Wereta says the structure created 20 years ago is no longer working for the district.

He says health problems like diabetes continue to increase among Maori and the coalition wants to find new ways prevent the problem in the future.

Mr Wereta says the feedback has been positive so far, although some people don't like the idea of change.

Final submissions are due by the end of September.