Bradford Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Bradford Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:612;Page:9038] 
2.  
SUE BRADFORD (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Does she support the closure of the inpatient service of the Auckland region’s only residential Maori mental health unit Te Whanau o Manawanui; if so why? 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Associate Minister of Health) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Health 
: The decision to close Te Whanau o Manawanui was made by the Auckland District Health Board following a review of the service and following extensive consultation. Poor facilities were one factor that continued to impede the development of the service. Furthermore the landowners Ngati Whatua terminated the lease effective from January next year. I support the decisions made by the board. 
Sue Bradford 
: How does it make sense to close Manawanui—which with its mental health inpatient beds could have been shifted to another site—when we all know that Auckland mental health services are desperately short of acute and sub-acute beds; and where will the homeless find a home and those without whanau find a new whanau in the nebulous packages of care proposed to replace Manawanui? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: A comprehensive range of services is being proposed by the Auckland District Health Board—including residential inpatient beds—either with non-governmental organisation providers or with the Auckland District Health Board itself. I do not agree with the description of the wrap-around packages but I do agree with the underlying concern raised by the member regarding the continuation of those residential services and they will be offered—the tender for those is going out right at this very moment. 
Dave Hereora 
: Has the Minister received any advice regarding alternatives to Te Whanau o Manawanui? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Yes. I am advised that the Auckland District Health Board announced on 24 September a new direction for kaupapa Maori mental health which includes a provision that those who need 24-hour care as part of their intensive rehabilitation package may access beds at the Auckland District Health Board or beds provided by a non-governmental organisation. This a new service that will offer wrap-around packages of care and intensive kaupapa Maori services which will be tailored to meet the expressed needs of the patients delivered either at home or wherever they are most appropriate. There will be greater flexibility in arranging beds and respite to suit the needs of the clients. I am happy to provide at the end of this question the full list of services that will be offered. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Why is this Government so determined to allow the closure of specialist inpatient psychiatric beds when we all know the lack of bed space for mentally ill patients is causing a crisis for patients who are discharged too soon for staff who are leaving because of stress and for families who are tortured by fear; has not deinstitutionalisation gone too far? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Our Government is not prepared to support the continuation of sub-standard services. 
Pita Paraone 
: Are Maori given any priority of access to mental health care; if so how does the closing of the one Maori mental health unit by the Waitemata District Health Board address this priority? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: As I indicated in the answer to the primary question the decision to close the unit was made after extensive consultation and ensuring that the alternative Maori health services required would be provided. The other consideration is the fact that the lease on the land expires in January next year. The reconfigured services are in line with the Maori mental health strategy which does address the specificity that the member addressed in his question. We have acknowledged the longstanding problems with Auckland’s mental health services; we are seeking change. I quote from the Maori mental health strategy: “Insanity is doing the same thing but expecting a different result.” 
Metiria Turei 
: Is the Minister aware that affected staff have not received any documentation showing this apparent extensive consultation which was apparently carried out with Maori in the Auckland region despite their repeated requests—so can the Minister herself produce any such documentation of extensive consultation; if not why not? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I do not have in the House with me right now written information about the consultation process but I will provide that to the member and table it as soon as possible. I have been advised that the extensive consultation I referred to included consultation with the staff and at the beginning of the proceedings there was 100 percent support for the process but at this stage it has not been as united. 
Sue Bradford 
: Given that Manawanui served not only the Auckland District Health Board area but also Counties-Manukau Waitemata and Northland district health board areas and given the ongoing shortage of acute beds in all those districts in particular Waitemata where there are many Maori patients how—with the closure of this unit on top of everything else—can the Minister say that having a few beds in non-governmental organisations is going to meet the needs of often homeless and displaced Maori people with mental illness? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I make two points in response to that question. First that was a very inaccurate representation of the answers I gave to the member in the previous question. Secondly my understanding is that part of the reconfiguration of services will include allocation of funding directly to the Northland District Health Board so it is able to provide services more locally in its own area; that Counties-Manukau is satisfied with the level of services of provision in the south; and that the inter - district health board arrangements between Waitemata and Auckland will continue under this configuration.