The Travesty of Avoidable Deaths and Lower Life Expectancy for Māori and Pacific

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Half of Māori and Pasifika deaths in New Zealand are avoidable, compared with 23% for others, and their life expectancy is 6-7 seven years less. A recent report holds that subtle, built-in racism in the health system is part of the cause. The NZ Herald reports

Lady Tureiti Moxon, managing director of primary health organisation Te Kōhao Health Ltd, said the figures might be shocking to some but she was very familiar with them.

"Our people aren't getting the diagnostics or seeing specialists when they should be seeing them. Therefore, they get put at the back of the line and miss out.

"Then people will ask 'Why didn't they present earlier?'. They are presenting all along but nobody is actually treating them with any urgency. Then they get full-blown cancer or diabetes."

She said racism in the health system was often subtle.

"Health professionals blame the [Māori] person for being sick. And they are told they can't have this operation until they've lost weight or given up smoking.

"This is instead of making a referral, or a plan. It perpetuates a view that we are undeserving. And it's constant, throughout the system...........