Iwi members to be offered free private health insurance

NEW ZEALAND – Auckland iwi Ngati Whatua Orakei is taking the health of its people into its own hands by providing free universal private health insurance for its members. The iwi, which has a commercial portfolio of more than $1 billion, wants to lift Maori health statistics by improving the wellbeing of its people. Joining the scheme is free for registered members of the iwi who live in New Zealand – and all of their insurance premiums and any payable excess will be paid for by the iwi.

The iwi currently has 4000 members and it is expected 70 per cent of members will sign up.

Ngati Whatua Orakei iwi member Selwyn Teua said she has elderly members of her whanau who are being let down by the public health system.

Around 250 kaumatua are currently registered with the iwi. “For kaumatua who have hip problems, sore legs and things like that they’re having to wait much longer to assess their health.”

Ngati Whatua Orakei has teamed up with private health and medical insurance provider NIB. Under the NIB insurance scheme, iwi members will have quicker access to private hospitals and help with the costs of non-urgent medical procedures.

Ngati Whatua Orakei chairperson Marama Royal said the Auckland health system was at breaking point, so the hapu has taken its own stand.

“We wanted to ensure that we were improving the health and wellbeing of our whanau right from our babies through to our kaumatua.”

In the next three weeks weeks, the iwi will present the insurance scheme on a roadshow to hapu members from Kaitaia to Christchurch.- RNZ