The Prime Minister has ruled out Waitangi Tribunal recommendation for the government to reconsider scrapping the Māori Health Authority.
The separtate entity was established in 2022 under Labour, but was disestablished earlier this year by the Coalition.
A Tribunal report released today found that decision was ill-informed as it did not consult or engage with Māori or get substantive advice from officials.
Christopher Luxon says it's not true to say Maori weren't consulted.
"We campaigned very strongly on it, we had an election in New Zealand and as a result we formed a government and disestablished the Māori Health Authority.
"We do not believe that approach was the right way forward, it had been available for 15 months from memory, pretty unsuccessful, not delivering outcomes."
Luxon says his government is concentrating on partnering with iwi to achieve better outcomes for Māori.
The Minister of Health pushed back the release of the government's Māori Health Strategy to the first quarter of next year.
Shane Reti also ruled out the Tribunal's recommendation to reinstate a stand-alone Māori health authority - but said the government was committed to improved consultation with Māori.
Iwi-Māori Partnership boards - which were given a broader remit when the Authority was axed - are making good progress, he said.
"I'm quite convinced that we will do a better for Māori and Māori health outcomes, furthermore the independent review review of the Māori Health Authority eight months after its establishment was not kind."
Reti said he will take some time to digest the report.