9. Question No. 9—Health (Māori Health)ARENA WILLIAMS (Labour—Manurewa) to the Associate Minister of Health (Māori Health)Question No. 9—Health (Māori Health)9. ARENA WILLIAMS (Labour—Manurewa) to the Associate Minister of Health (Māori Health): What recent announcement has he made about the sequencing of the COVID-19 vaccination programme for Māori?Hon PEENI HENARE (Associate Minister of Health (Māori Health)): Yesterday alongside my colleague the Hon Chris Hipkins the Minister for COVID-19 Response we announced the timing and sequencing of the COVID vaccine programme and how the programme has a strong focus on protecting our Māori whānau. I also announced an initial funding package of approximately $39 million to ensure Māori communities and providers are prepared and ready for the roll-out of the programme; $24.5 million for the development of community-based vaccine support services that will support Māori health providers; $11 million to be provided directly to Māori health providers to help build provider infrastructure and workforce capability; $2 million for iwi to deliver dedicated and tailored communication campaigns to their whānau; and $1.5 million for workforce development. In addition to the funding an additional 40000 courses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be provided specifically for Māori and Pasifika health providers. Together with my colleague the Hon Aupito William Sio we believe in giving our providers the flexibility to best meet the health needs of their whānau aiga and communities.Arena Williams: How is the Government ensuring that Māori are prioritised in the COVID-19 sequencing framework?Hon PEENI HENARE: Whānau Māori are more likely to be worse off from the effects of COVID-19 which is why the needs of Māori are at the forefront of this Government's COVID-19 vaccination programme. Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equity have been central from planning to implementation of the programme. Māori have been involved in all levels of decision making from Government to technical advisory groups and right to on-the-ground working with our communities. As we know older Māori and Pacific peoples are more likely to live with whānau rather than in an aged-care facility. That is why 40000 vaccine courses will be allocated to Māori and Pacific health providers to target vaccinations within the communities they service in order to reach these older people. This is just the starting point. The initial funding of approximately $39 million will ensure Māori communities and providers are prepared for the roll-out of the COVID19 programme in their communities.Arena Williams: Is he confident that this COVID-19 vaccination programme will deliver for Māori?Hon PEENI HENARE: We take a by Māori for Māori approach and putting our whānau in the centre of everything we do. Our communities expect leadership and this is what leadership looks like. Leading from behind: ka tika a mua; ka tika a muri. [If things go well up front things will go well out back.] It is about protecting our whānau hapū iwi and our whakapapa and we are ensuring that those most at risk of getting sick from the virus are getting the vaccine as early as possible. Over the last 24 hours we have heard from providers who are pleased that their calls have been heard and that Government is listening—for example Manukau Urban Māori Authority chairperson Bernie O'Donnell and I quote: Light at the end of the tunnel. … Rangatira are applauding the Government and urging our South Auckland community to be proactive." I'm pleased to say that the next phases of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is taking a strong stand for equity and has a focus on the protection of Māori whānau.Rawiri Waititi: Supplementary question?SPEAKER: No the member has none left."