Background

The National Kaitiaki Group (NKG) was established under and operates within the Health (Cervical Screening (Kaitiaki)) Regulations 1995.  The group is accountable to the Minister of Health.

What are the group's functions?

The National Kaitiaki Group's task is to consider applications for the release of Māori women's aggregate data from the National Cervical Screening Programme-Register (NCSP-Register).

The criteria used to approve applications are:

• the principle of the sanctity of Te Whare Tangata
• the need for culturally-appropriate protection for the taonga of protected information
• the need to ensure that protected information is used for the benefit of Māori women.

How many meetings are there?

The group considers applications four times a year, usually in February, May, August and November.  The dates for the next NKG quarterly meetings are as follows:

Tuesday 17 August 2010

Tuesday 16 November 2010

Process for submitting applications

Applications for data are required at least two weeks prior to a meeting.  Where important matters require consideration outside this schedule, ad-hoc meetings or teleconferences may be held with the prior approval from the NKG.

Confidentiality

In releasing approved data, the NKG will ensure that such releases protect the confidentiality of Māori women on the NCSP-Register.  Very small numbers that might identify individual women will be aggregated into bigger groupings.

How to apply

All requests for data from the NCSP-Register must be made in writing to Mihikore Andrews, Interim NCSP Programme Leader, using the 'NCSP Register - Request for Data' form.  If the request is approved, the NCSP will advise if an application to the NKG is also required to be completed. 

For further information please contact Mihikore Andrews: Mihikore_Andrews@moh.govt.nz