Outcomes are reported from a nationwide telephone survey of public health providers conducted in NZ from November 2014 to May 2015, which sought to identify inconsistencies and biases within health contracting practices by comparing governmentfunded contracting processes for Māori-led public health providers (n=60) and generic providers (n=90). Quantitative data were subjected to descriptive statistical analyses and revealed four key areas of significant variation: contract length, monitoring intensity, compliance costs and auditing frequency. Non-significant data involved access to discretionary funding and cost of living adjustments, the frequency of monitoring, access to Crown (government) funders and representation on advisory groups. An inductive approach was used to analyse data from open-ended responses in the survey domains of relationships with portfolio contract managers, contracting and funding, as a way of categorising participant’s perspectives into significant themes. The qualitative material showed disparate provider experiences, dependent on individual portfolio managers, with nuanced differences between generic and Māori providers’ experiences. The researchers make the point that in a policy context where health equity is a key directive to the health sector, these findings suggest there is scope for NZ health funders to improve their contracting practices.
