Hei Ahuru Mowai, Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa

 

In Aotearoa Māori have a 20% higher cancer incidence rate and are twice as likely to die than non-Māori. These differences are intolerable, unfair, and preventable.

[1]Cancer inequities between indigenous Māori and non-Māori New Zealanders are unfair, intolerable, and entirely preventable. Significant inequities exist across the entire cancer control continuum, resulting in poorer survival and increased mortality for Māori.

The challenge for Māori health cancer leaders has been to embed a creditable point of Māori engagement for the New Zealand’s cancer control system. Thereby enabling participation of the Māori voice in the design and creation of solutions to the inequities that negatively impact Māori.  

Hei Āhuru Mōwai, Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa was established in 2012 to become the trusted point of engagement for Māori cancer expertise. Their purpose is to provide indigenous centric guidance and support for New Zealand cancer policy decision makers. Founded on the Te Tiriti o Waitangi framework, strengthened by indigenous clinical and academic rigor, appraised by flax roots wisdom, and clothed with mātauranga Māori and traditional values.

Hei Āhuru Mōwai means, a calm place, a sheltered haven. They are a national network of Māori cancer specialists committed to better cancer outcomes for whānau. Its members are drawn from a broad range of health and associated disciplines and services. They include, epidemiology, medical oncology, haematology, surgical specialist, clinicians, public health doctors, leading Māori cancer researchers, mātauranga Māori specialists, Māori providers, NGOs, and Primary Care. The calibre of expertise that this network brings to the work of finding equity focused solution to the inequitable status of Māori with cancer is undeniable.   

Over the past 18 months Hei Āhuru Mōwai has been the voice, providing essential design guidance and support to Te Aho o Te Kahu, New Zealand’s Cancer Agency. They created position statements on Cervical and HPV, Liver and Bowel cancers. They called out racism and inappropriate behaviour where others may have surrendered to the pressure of being a lone voice in the crowd. They continue to advocate strongly for resourcing that is both adequate and appreciative of the dedication and commitment of members to do much of this work in a voluntary capacity. But more importantly they continue to provide support and care for the many members and volunteers that give so willingly of their time.

Hei Āhuru Mōwai is strengthened in its work by tikanga Māori and te reo Māori. These things provide the platform upon which Hei Āhuru Mōwai does its work. They focus on being the voice for Māori cancer or māngai. Using that voice to create the change that is needed. They drive and lead research rangahau / wānanga, to examine evidence, develop solutions, and guide practice. They apply Māori centric knowledge and expertise or mātauranga Māori to give context and depth to solutions that Hei Āhuru Mōwai pose. And as noted earlier, the most important role is to provide support and care for the many members and volunteers that give willingly of their time to the work of Hei Āhuru Mōwai, Āhuru. So māngai, rangahau/wānanga, mātauranga  Māori and Āhuru are at the base of what they do.

Community Waikato

In 2020, executive members of Hei Āhuru Mōwai approached Community Waikato to request support to review its purpose and structure. A new Charitable Trust was registered with four trustees appointed. Co-chairs, Dr Nina Scott, Director of Māori equity strategy and research at Waikato DHB, Gary Thompson, Kaiwhakarite at Community Waikato, Rawiri Blundell, Population Health Manager, Te Awakairangi Health Network, and Shelley Campbell, CEO Waikato, Bay of Plenty Cancer Society.

The Trustees and members of Hei Āhuru Mōwai are greatly indebted to the Board, Holly Snape, and the team at Community Waikato for their support. They have been critical to the group’s efforts to build infrastructure in order to improve cancer outcomes for Māori. Anne Douglas’ guidance and help with financial systems, budgeting, auditing, and charities reporting has been invaluable.

Hei Āhuru Mōwai has one staff member working half-time (O.5 FTE). Her skill, knowledge and expertise has been critical to the progress that has been made over the last 18 months. Moahuia is the chief executive for the organisation. She continues to hold the network together, coordinating members and volunteers, responding to health systems request for Māori participation, advice, and guidance and organising trustees. All of this on top of rebuilding the Hei Āhuru Mōwai brand, building and managing the website and communications, coordinating with Anne on matters of finance and supporting members in times of need. Hei Āhuru Mōwai is truly grateful of the work Moahuia does.

The challenge with creating and running a national network is the ability to adequately fund the infrastructure and operational supports required to allow the network to function to it’s potential. Many of the readers of the Kumara Vine will be familiar with these challenges. With good fortune the 2022/23 Kumara Vine article from Hei Āhuru Mōwai might give a positive report on how they have fared with this challenge.

Visit: https://www.heiahurumowai.org.nz/ to find more information about the work of Hei Āhuru Mōwai. Mauri ora.      

 
 
Kim Cable