Localities are a key feature of Aotearoa New Zealand’s reformed health care system. These will aim to help achieve better, more equitable wellbeing outcomes for all New Zealanders in that area, based on what is important to their communities and whānau.
Localities will better connect service providers, iwi and other stakeholders to collectively improve community health and wellbeing outcomes.
The geographic boundaries for the localities are determined through a national process that includes consultation with communities, iwi-Māori partnership boards(external link), and local authorities(external link).
The locality model aspires to bring everyone together with a common understanding of challenges, a shared vision, and a joint approach to solutions that go beyond health.
A locality plan will be developed for each locality in collaboration with the locality partnership group, which consist of the iwi-Māori partnership boards within the locality area, Te Whatu Ora(external link) and Te Aka Whai Ora.
Locality plans will detail priorities and hauora aspirations of whānau Māori and the community in each locality. Everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand can contribute to identifying priorities and hauora aspirations and outcomes for their community.
For people living in a locality this will mean:
By July 2024, every community in Aotearoa will be part of a locality.
Localities focus much more on health services and achieving pae ora for whānau. They will do this by improving the environment people live in, how they live, and the opportunities they need to thrive, provide for their whānau, and contribute to their communities.
Localities are an avenue for iwi, mana whenua, hāpori Māori and community voices in deciding what’s needed in their local area and support different health and wellbeing organisations to work together better to improve people’s experiences of healthcare.
Iwi-Māori partnership boards(external link) will act as a vehicle for rangatiratanga and mana motuhake.
Iwi-Māori partnership boards (IMPBs) will exercise tino rangatiratanga in planning around the health needs, aspirations, and priorities of whānau, hapū, iwi and hāpori Māori within their rohe or coverage area. They are supported by Te Aka Whai Ora to undertake their functions.
IMPBs ensure the voices of whānau Māori, including tangata whaikaha disabled peoples, are uplifted and made visible within the health system. IMPBs will also have a key role in determining locality priorities and embedding mātauranga Māori within the locality plans.
The first 12 areas to start implementing the locality approach, which have been building and testing new models, and ways of working are:
For further information on Localities, email: MHALocalities@health.govt.nz
Map of current localities
