39877 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health

39877 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter January to March 2024 on the action ‘Invest in a Māori mate wareware provider sector, and validate Māori models, tools and applications that are focused on: information in te reo’ under the objective ‘Support people living with dementia mate wareware and their family /whānau supporters/care partners to live their best possible lives’ within Te Whatu Ora’s Improving Dementia Mate Wareware Services in Aotearoa New Zealand Action Plan?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that in June 2023, under the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan implementation programme, seven new service trials were commissioned, which will run until June 2027. These trials focus on priority populations, including Māori, Pacific, people living in rural areas, and people with younger onset dementia mate wareware. The trials prioritise three areas: - innovative respite care options to support carers and whānau ; - post diagnostic supports for people with dementia mate wareware, their whānau and carers; and - navigator roles to coordinate and support people to access the supports they need. I also note for the Member that Health New Zealand is undertaking an Aged Care Funding and Service Models Review that aims over time to improve the sustainability of aged care services and ensure equity of access and outcomes across New Zealand.