Equity, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and cancer data

Upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and being equity led and whānau centred

Te Aho o Te Kahu is committed to improving cancer care and making a meaningful difference to all New Zealanders affected by cancer. We are equity led, whānau centred, knowledge driven and outcomes focused.

As part of our commitment to fewer cancers, better survival and equity for all, our work involves researching and analysing data and information to inform and implement best practice. This includes being the leading source of information on cancer control for people with cancer and their whānau, health care professionals and anyone involved in cancer care.

With this responsibility comes the privilege of accessing people’s cancer data. To that end we are committed to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to:

• ensure all cancer information is used appropriately for the purpose for which it was intended.
• give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi by treating data as a taonga (treasure) to secure and protect Māori data from misuse.

Te Aho o Te Kahu recognises the rights and interests of Māori in the collection, ownership, and application of data. This commitment is fundamental to driving equity focused decisions, better inform the measurement of outcomes, and to ensure Māori have the information they need to exercise their tino rangatiratanga.

Our response

We are actively working with our partners to better understand and put into practice our obligations and responsibilities across our data projects and activities. In particular, Te Aka Whai Ora supported by Manatū Hauora and Te Whatu Ora is preparing to release guidance to support implementation of Māori Data Sovereignty.