Taxpayer funding for traditional Maori healers

Fairfax media has reported that almost $2 million in Ministry of Health funding is given to Maori healers for Rongoa services. Rongoa is a traditional Maori system of healing that includes rakau rongoa (native herbal remedies), mirimiri (massage) and karakia (prayer), as well as spiritual support.

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For the most part the revelation has been surprisingly uncontroversial; Vicki Hyde of the New Zealand Skeptics said that she was concerned about some claims by Maori healers, such as the use of a kawakawa poultice to help fight lung cancer. but other traditional Maori remedies had undergone scientific testing and were proven to be effective. Rob McGowan of Waikato University agreed saying there were "huge" amounts of research on some of the plants used in rakau rongoa.

Rakau rongoa herbal remedies are not covered by the Medicines Act however, and the ministry does not require them to be tested as part of its funding policy. Dr Shaun Holt, author of Natural Remedies That Really Work: A New Zealand guide, said that “if anything is being funded it should be based on good research.” adding that “There's a real need for control because some people claiming to be traditional healers really aren't very knowledgeable.”

According to Fairfax;

The renewed interest in Maori healing was due to several factors including; the resurgence of all aspects of Maori culture, a loss of confidence in Western medicine, problems with access to health care for Maori and the perceived lack of a spiritual dimension in Western health services.

Health Cuts Hurt chairwoman Heather Carter said that she supported funding for properly tested alternative therapies but it was unfair to only fund Maori healers "It's an unfortunate reflection of our politically correct society. Funding has to be for other forms of alternative healthcare as well, not just Maori,"

The funding for Maori healers represents only 0.3% of total health budget.