The Wai 2575 Health Inquiry
Rex Timu, Mongrel Mob president and Wai 2641 claimant at the White Ribbon ride against family violence. credit: Hawkes Bay Today
Te Mata Law represent a total of 39 clients involved in the Wai 2575 Health Inquiry with each claim raising different grievances against the Crown and each claim being brought by whānau, hapū, individuals, experts and academics alike. We represent claims on a wide range of topics including diabetes, takatapui health, cancer, ACC, disabilities, alcohol and alcohol related harms such as FASD, gambling and other addictions, mental health and wellbeing and youth suicide.
Stage One of the Health Inquiry has been completed and focused on the legislative and policy framework of New Zealand’s primary healthcare system as a whole and its alleged flaws when assessed against the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. A report by the Tribunal was released and found multiple breaches of Te Tiriti and included the recommendation for an Independent Māori Health Authority to be established.
Stage Two of the Health Inquiry relating to disabilities is due to begin hearings in March 2022. Te Mata Law have two claims participating in this phase of the Inquiry including Wai 2624, a claim by David Ratu concerning Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorder.
Following on from the disabilities phase of the Inquiry the Tribunal will turn to inquire into mental health and alcohol and substance abuse.
One of the claims brought by Te Mata Law was a claim by Mongrel Mob leader Rex Timu regarding the methamphetamine epidemic among Māori and failings by the health system to address this epidemic.
A blog post about the Wai 2624 claim is here.
Read the Statement of claim of Tuta Ngarimu regarding youth suicide and health in Tairawhiti here.
Read the Statement of Claim of Marino Murphy regarding Māori and problem gambling here.
Read the NZ Herald article about the Wai 2641 Methamphetamine claim made by Rex Timu here.
Marino Murphy, Wai 2240 claimant. Her claim regards Problem Gambling among Māori. credit: Northern Advocate.
Tuta Ngarimu, Wai 2686 claimant. His claim regards youth suicide and Māori health in Tairawhiti. credit: NZ Herald.