Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 15 November 2012. Volume:685;Page:6705. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
2. 
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Maori Party—Waiariki) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Does the Government believe that it is acceptable that two out of three Maori and Pacific Island diabetics die from diabetic complications compared to one in three Pakeha diabetics; and what actions has he taken to reduce the inequities in light of fresh predictions that by 2020 one in six Maori and Pasifika adults will have diabetes? 
Hon JO GOODHEW (Acting Minister of Health) 
: 
 No. No the Government does not believe that it is acceptable which is why improving diabetes care in primary care is a Government priority and has been included as one of the Government’s six health targets since 2008. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: What specific long-term measures are being devised to reduce diabetes rates for Maori and Pacific people and those living in deprived neighbourhoods in light of the projections that the incidence of and the mortality rates for type 2 diabetes are expected to increase over the next 20 years with the biggest impact being on these groups? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: The Maori population is at greater risk of developing gestational diabetes. The ministry’s current project with a focus on gestational diabetes and health literacy particularly in regard to Maori may help Maori women and others to be better informed about screening for and management of gestational diabetes. This will be a long-term project and has had $121000 spent on it. The final report on this is due on 7 December and will be published by the end of January. With regard to Pacific peoples and the Pacific Innovation Fund $6 million was announced as part of the Budget this year to establish that fund and to administer it over 4 years. It will invest in long-term health initiatives that demonstrate innovation through application of new strategies models and methods of service delivery and in particular will look at things that are affecting Pacific people’s health like obesity and smoking. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Does the Minister agree with Te Ropu Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pomare that screening for signs of pre-diabetes and insulin resistance related to obesity and management of these conditions is important; and what new programmes will be invested in to replace successful diabetes prevention programmes such as “Get Checked” Healthy Eating - Healthy Action and nutrition guidelines for school tuck shops all of which are programmes that have been scrapped by the Government? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: Yes screening is important. We have been working with the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Professor Sir Peter Gluckman who suggests that preconditions for obesity are set really early and that the best intervention point is maternal and newborn nutrition. I do want to acknowledge that the member has maintained that “Get Checked” was a successful programme and to disagree with the member. A 2011 review of recent studies on the “Get Checked” programme showed that it did not systematically result in improved management or outcomes for people with diabetes so we ring-fenced the budget approximately $8 million and asked district health boards and primary care to work together to design localised responses to best support people with diabetes. This Government is trying to work with programmes that are effective that do work and that are a good return on the investment of the taxpayer funding.