19/03/2026
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated (NKII) is proud to announce a formal commitment to work collectively with Hauora Māori service providers, regional Taiwhenua, Post-Settlement Governance Entities (PSGEs), and the Tihei Takitimu Iwi Māori Partnership Board to advance the establishment of the Kahungunu Health Authority (KHA).
Since an initial announcement in September 2025, these parties have collaborated to bring clarity to how the KHA could operate as a separate, independent body designed to achieve better outcomes for whānau.
The KHA will be established to supplement, rather than duplicate, the work of the existing regional Māori health entities. While these entities work from within the public health system to support and deliver health services, and influence investment and accountability, the KHA sits outside the system.
This independence gives it strategic freedom to design and scale innovative models of care, partner with private sector operators, and mobilize iwi resources in a way the public sector system may be too risk-averse to adopt.
Bayden Barber, Chair of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc, emphasizes the need for this dual-tiered approach.
"The health sector is in crisis, and our statistics continue to languish. By standing together with our regional partners, we’re creating a powerful political force grounded in rangatiratanga. NKII remains the constitutional voice for Treaty and cultural matters, while the KHA carries the technical expertise and political freedom to challenge the system and demand better opportunities and outcomes for our people."
Central to this development will be a dedicated working group of twenty-five whānau members who expressed their commitment during recent wānanga to help drive the kaupapa forward. This group will ensure the design of the KHA remains rooted in the voices and aspirations of the people it serves.
Speaking on behalf of all parties, Tihei Takitimu Co-Chairs Kerri Nuku and Lewis Ratapu highlighted the critical importance of unity in the current climate.
"At a time when the rights and interests of Māori are being constantly challenged, kotahitanga is our greatest strength. We must move forward together to protect the health of our people.
Our role will be to ensure the public system lifts its performance and remains accountable, while the KHA pushes the horizon of what’s possible from the outside. Together, we create a 'productive tension' that ensures the system never settles for 'good enough'."
The parties will work on a robust governance structure that harnesses the deep knowledge and networks of Hauora providers and PSGEs to ensure all voices are amplified. This unified front positions Kahungunu as a leader shaping the future of Māori health on its own terms.
ENDS
