Mauri Ora: Does being made unemployed affect health?

'Mauri Mahi, Mauri Ora, Mauri Noho, Mauri Mate: The Health effects of Redundancy and Unemployment' is an ongoing research programme that was developed by Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated and Te Roopu Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pomare.

The research involves measuring the effects of large-scale redundancies on health, incluing deaths and hospital admissions. An important part of this project was to inform communities, policy makers, health services and industries of the likely effects of industry closures.

Job loss and industry closures were common in New Zealand during the 1980's and 1990s. Unemployment was growing and impacting on Ngati Kahungunu whanau.

The research is based on the sudden closures of both the Hawkes Bay Farmers Meat Company at Whakatu on 10 October 1986 and Weddel Tomoana Freezing Works at Hastings on 19 August 1994.

The workers were not to blame for the closures. The closures were the result of economic, political and financial decision-making.

This study is the largest study in the world that follows the health effects of workers affected by a factory closure. It is unique in New Zealand and internationally. The "Mauri Mahi:Does being made unemployed affect health? The Closures of Whakatu and Tomoana" talks about the findings of the first study. This booklet was sent to all the people in the study and was launched at a week-long community exhibition in Hastings hosted by Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated. A copy of the booklet can be downloaded here.

An academic article on the project was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, titles "Serious health events following involuntary job loss in New Zealand meat processing workers".

The project  is also featured in a 45 minute television programme on Marae, and received extensive news coverage on radio, newpapers and magazines (eg Mana). In 2002 Ngahiwi Tomoana and Vera Keefe-Ormsby took the findings to an international conference in Finland.

New Study

Mauri Tanga: Long term effects of involuntary job loss on mortality and morbidity.

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated and Te Roopu Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pomare continued to research the closure of the Hawkes Bay freezing works by looking at the long term health effects of involuntary job loss. This study looks at hospital admissions, cancer registrations, and deaths among freezing workers who lost their jobs in 1986 when Whakatu freezing works closed and among those who lost thier jobs in 1994 when Weddel Tomoana closed. They will be compared with freezing workers who were working in 1986 or 1994 at Pacific, Oringi, Takapau and Wairoa freezing works. Around 6000 people will be immediately involved during the course of this research.

This research is unique in the world. Maori have been disproportionately affected by factory closures during the last 25 years. The research aims to influence policies concerning economic, social and health inequalities and equitable access to health care.

Part of the research involved communicating with the ex freezing workers who worked at Whakatu, Tomoana, Pacific, Oringi, Takapau and Wairoa freezing works during 1986 or 1994 to inform them about the study and ask if they want to be included.

The information that has been gathered has been analysed and is being prepared for publishing into a free community booklet that will be available for all interested persons. Further consultation hui will be held to inform the iwi of the outcome and progress to date.

If you want to find out more about the research you can ring the toll free number 0800 522 322 at the Eru Pomare Maori Health Research Centre and speak with researcher and project coordinator Jordan Waiti.