Health Advocate Lady Tureiti Moxon Champions Māori Equity in Legislative Submission

Auckland, 27 October 2026 — Lady Tureiti Moxon, the Managing Director of Te Kōhao Health and a prominent Māori health advocate, is calling for the protection of Te Tiriti o Waitangi provisions within Aotearoa’s legislative framework. Speaking with Radio Waatea’s Dale Husband on Tuesday, Lady Moxon highlighted how existing Treaty protections serve as a vital mechanism for ensuring Māori health equity and maintaining government accountability. Representing both Te Kōhao Health and the National Urban Māori Authority, Lady Moxon has formally urged the rejection of three government bills aimed at altering or standardising Treaty references across various statutes. She argued that the current provisions are essential for supporting Māori participation in decision-making and ensuring health services are designed around the specific needs of whānau. According to Moxon, these legislative obligations help guarantee that Māori health priorities remain a focus during funding and policy development. The submission follows government proposals to review Treaty references for what Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith describes as improved legal clarity and consistency. However, Lady Moxon expressed concern that weakening these obligations could impact the delivery of kaupapa Māori healthcare. She noted that Māori health providers play a critical role in connecting physical health with mental wellbeing, identity, and culture, often addressing wider social factors like housing and income that influence overall health outcomes. Moxon’s advocacy emphasizes the importance of independent scrutiny and the ability of Māori to hold the Crown accountable for health outcomes. She pointed to previous policy decisions regarding bowel cancer screening as evidence of why equitable decision-making is necessary. As the Justice Select Committee continues to receive feedback, with a public submission deadline of 1 December, the focus remains on ensuring that health systems remain responsive to Māori communities and that progress toward closing equity gaps is preserved.