AIDA is deeply concerned by the recent decision from the New Zealand Minister for Health, Hon Simeon Brown, not to reappoint the existing Medical Council of New Zealand chairperson, Dr Rachelle Love and deputy chairperson Simon Watt when their terms expired, despite both remaining eligible for reappointment.
This level of political interference in the regulatory body that sets the standards for doctors is unprecedented. This decision raises serious concerns about the politicisation of independent health regulation, particularly where the Minister’s concerns appear to relate to the Council’s work on cultural competence, cultural safety and hauora Māori. This position reflects a lack of understanding and knowledge of the evidence base. Evidence based medicine is core to ensuring appropriate standards and safety and quality in health care.
AIDA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Peter Malouf, warned against undermining the core foundations of safe and effective healthcare.
“Cultural safety must be recognised as a core clinical responsibility – not an optional add-on. It is fundamental to delivering high-quality care and ensuring health systems are responsive to all first peoples.”
Cultural safety is not an “ideological agenda” - it is a clinical safety requirement directly linked to morbidity and mortality. In Aotearoa, cultural competence and cultural safety sit within the professional and regulatory responsibilities of health practitioners and are directly connected to public protection, clinical competence, ethical practice and health equity.
Dr Malouf said that evidence continues to demonstrate the importance of embedding cultural safety across the health system.
“Cultural respect and cultural integrity are foundational. If we are serious about improving health outcomes, cultural safety must remain central to how the health system grows, trains and supports the medical profession.”
Indigenous-led research demonstrates measurable links between reduced racist attitudes and increased commitment to culturally safe practice.
A recent major scoping review commissioned by the Australian Human Rights Commission, co-authored by First Nations health researchers, synthesised 100 studies demonstrating racism as a critical driver of:
- poorer health outcomes
- chronic disease burden
- reduced life expectancy
Dr Malouf said racism in healthcare remains a systemic issue requiring deliberate and sustained action.
“Culturally safe healthcare requires more than training modules. It demands systems that embed cultural integrity, accountability and workforce support as essential elements of quality care.”
The same evidence base shows racism operates at:
- systemic level (policies, funding, access barriers)
- interpersonal level (stereotyping, misdiagnosis, dismissal of symptoms)
The literature consistently finds training is required for doctors to address history, racism and power knowledge, and to embed anti-racism and reflexivity.
There is wider system-level consensus across Australia and Aotearoa that cultural safety is positioned as a professional standard and a core requirement of quality and safety frameworks. We should not forget that the concept of cultural safety was developed in Aotearoa by Māori nurses and scholars (notably Irihapeti Ramsden) in response to the harms of colonisation and inequitable health care experiences.
Dr Malouf said that safeguarding cultural safety within regulatory frameworks is essential to maintaining public trust.
“Building culturally safe systems comes down to trust. Health services must be accountable to the communities they serve, and that trust is built through cultural integrity, respect and consistent engagement.”
Health regulatory bodies should not be subject to political interference as this places the safety of patients at risk. Australian regulatory bodies such as Ahpra MUST continue to centre the right to culturally safe and quality health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in all their work.
AIDA calls on the New Zealand Government to respect the independence of health practitioner regulators and to uphold cultural safety as a core standard of clinical safety and equitable health care. We stand in solidarity with our Māori whānau and allies in Aotearoa.
ENDS
About AIDA
The Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) is the peak professional body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors and medical students. Our purpose is to uphold and strengthen a skilled, dynamic, sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical workforce, grounded in our cultures. We also continue to enable ethical and safe health systems and drive optimal outcomes for all Peoples through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical leadership and effective partnerships.
AIDA’s vision is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples living long, healthy and thriving lives grounded in our sovereignty, cultures and Country.