A focus by the University of Otago on recruiting Maori and Pacific Islander health sciences students has resulted in their numbers soaring in the past six years.
"Bold moves" called for to reach Smokefree 2025 target.
The head of the country's largest Māori public health organisation wants the Government to develop a strategy to end tobacco sales in New Zealand.
When Racquel McKenzie moved to Whanganui from Wellington, she hoped to get a Maori midwife.
She was out of luck.
"There weren't any lead maternity carers that were Māori," she said.
The Medical Council is confident New Zealand is on track for the percentage of Maori doctors to reflect the proportion of Maori in the general population.
About 150 Māori medical practitioners, doctors, nurses, medical graduates and others will converge on Rotorua this weekend to attend a National Hui to discuss Māori Health issues as a part of the Health Services and Outcomes Inquiry currently before the Waitangi Tribunal.
