While the COVID-19 crisis has reminded us of how underprepared the world was to detect and respond to emerging infectious diseases, it simultaneously revealed how well-placed and effective institutions in Te Ao Māori are in being able to react decisively and positively on behalf of their people.
While Government leaders remain focused on navigating the current crisis, we argue in this brief note that making smarter investments in Iwi, in Māori institutions, and in the Whānau Ora Commissioning agencies has the potential to both accelerate the nation’s COVID-19 response while also ensuring COVID-19 does not raise inequality in the same way past pandemics have.