Call to recognise Maori values

Press, 8 March 1984, Page 26

Call to recognise Maori values

PA Wellington The Minister of Health, Mr Malcolm, has urged hospital boards to eliminate 100 years of cultural indifference to Maori values.

He told delegates to . a Hospital Boards’ Association conference in Wellington that some aspects of New Zealand’s health services had not been adapted to meet the needs of Maori people. An important issue to Maoris is the continued refusal of some sections of the hospital service to hand over the after-birth to Maori families.

“This is an issue of great

cultural importance for Maori people and they have been trying to get our health services to recognise it for 100 years,” he said. “There is absolutely no clinical or other reason that I can determine why the wish of the Maori people to have access to the afterbirth should be refused.” Mr Malcolm said a refusal could only be a result of “bloody-minded bureaucracy or else total cultural insensitivity.” The Minister also urged conference delegates to ensure that district nurses acted as a resource to Maori families, to enable

the family to provide fulltime care. “For many Maori people, it is quite offensive that the sick should be cared for other than by members of their own family,” Mr Malcolm said. “The families will be prepared to help — what they may need is some assistance and advice in carrying out that function.” Mr Malcolm urged delegates -to establish contact with tribal elders in their area and arrange for them to provide advice and participate in the spiritual care of Maori people in hospital.