A report launched today shows that Māori babies make up more than 60% of all cot deaths in New Zealand.
The Green Party says that this is another signal that Government agencies need to do more to help keep tamariki safe.
The report, Māori Narratives of Poverty, undertaken by Whakawhetu SUDI Prevention, shows Māori are not receiving the post-natal support they need.
In a seminar at Parliament this morning, Whakawhetu outlined its vision to address issues faced by Māori families living in poverty. Children dying of cot death is one of those issues.
Green Party Māori Development spokesperson Marama Davidson says, “The number of Māori babies dying because of cot death is a national tragedy.
Māori babies are far more likely to die in infancy than any other group and we should all be indignant about that.
The report shows part of the problem is that health agencies are not reaching the families that need their help the most, with nearly one-third of babies who received no post-natal contact being Māori.
We know that parental post-natal support is critical to reducing cot death rates.”
The report also showed that cultural values are central to a sense of well being for Māori whānau, which is key to improving Māori health.
Davidson says, “We need Government agencies to recognise and incorporate kaupapa Māori more effectively into the services they deliver.
The report also suggests that there may be an unconscious bias in the health sector against Māori children and families, which means that too many of our tamariki don’t receive the support they deserve.
Medical professionals may need training to counter this bias and get the best outcomes for Māori.”