Tariana Turia MP "I have advised the Minister of Health some two months ago, about concerns reported to me, that the needs of Maori living with HIV, HIV positive women, migrant and refugees were being neglected in favour of white gay men," says the Maori Party's health spokesperson Tariana Turia of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation this week. She points out that the most recent AIDS Epidemiology Group report identifies a marked increase in HIV diagnoses among Maori - from 6.4% of all notifications in 2006, to 11.4% in the first six months of 2007. So far this year, twelve of the 105 people found to be infected with HIV are identified as Maori. "The sharp increase in HIV infection amongst Maori for this first half year is an early warning that we ignore at our peril," Turia says. "Then to read one of the NZAF reports on the new rapid testing which states outright that 'Pakeha gay men' are 'the exact group most at risk of becoming infected' really doesn't give me much confidence in the capacity of that organisation to care for those people living with the virus who happen to be Maori; women, or migrant and refugees". While there is no disputing the facts that the majority of people notified with AIDS have been men infected through sex with men (73%); and that the majority of people notified with AIDS are European (71%), Turia says efforts to control HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in Aotearoa must cater for the broader population. "What an irony that even amongst the marginalised there is marginalisation, and let's face it, this same ethnic targeting which favours white males is a reflection of the bias which exists in the wider community and society." she reflects. NZAF Board Chair Hoani Jeremy Lambert Neither the NZAF nor the AIDS Epidemiology Group are willing to draw conclusions based on six months worth of diagnosis data, responds NZAF Board Chair Hoani Jeremy Lambert. “The Foundation is continually looking at HIV epidemiology data to inform its future work. It is important to note that of the 12 new Maori notifications in the first six months, we have no further information other than gender. More information will not be available until the end of the year – it is at that point that we look at recent and overall trends to see what adjustments to our programme of work need to be made. "What we can say is that men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to represent the vast majority of new HIV infections amongst Maori, and that Maori as an ethnic group are not over-represented in the statistics. "NZAF is always doing specific work with Maori to combat HIV via the excellent work of our Hau Ora Takataapui team," continues Lambert. "This year, the team have been hard at work this year building relationships and networks within communities of Maori MSM, both HIV negative and HIV positive, developing new resources, and working within wider Maori communities to combat homophobia - which is a major hindrance to our work in some sectors of Maori society." But are the needs of Maori living with HIV, HIV positive women, migrant and refugees being neglected in favour of Pakeha gay men? No, answers Lambert: "We are surprised that Mrs Turia seems to have her facts wrong about our services. The New Zealand AIDS Foundation has provided free care and support services for all people living with and affected by HIV, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation for over 20 years and is proud to do so. "However, HIV is not an equal opportunity virus - in New Zealand it continues to affect mostly gay men, regardless of their ethnicity, and unfortunately this reality makes some people uncomfortable. This does mean our HIV prevention work in this country needs to focus on the groups most at risk and that is primarily gay and bisexual men, including Takatāpui tane," says Lambert. "We do hope that Mrs Turia is not saying gay men don't matter, even those within her own community." Lambert concludes that the Foundation's commitment to biculturalism and working with Maori is evident both in our long term commitment to by Maori for Maori gay men's HIV prevention team HOT and throughout the new Trust Deed (specifically in principles (a) (d) (e) and (h) ) and also in the Strategic Plan 2005-2010. (specifically goal 3). Both documents can be viewed on the links below. Matt Akersten - 16th October 2007 Ref: Maori Party, NZAF (m)