FROM THE CEO
TITIRO WHAKAMURI, KOKIRI WHAKAMUA look back and reflect so you can move forward. The year 1990 is cemented into the minds of many of Aotearoa’s midwives as the year in which the Nurses Amendment Act (NAA) was passed, once again restoring the right to professionally autonomous midwifery practice. For some of the newer members of our profession, this momentous change may feel a bit like ancient history. An important but fabled or mythical event discussed by wise colleagues but one which may be hard to fully grasp the significance of. For those who aren’t familiar with the history, a detailed account of the events leading up to and following the passing of the NAA (which occurred on the 22nd of August) is set out in Women’s Business, the story of the New Zealand College of Midwives 1986 – 2010 by Sally Pairman and Karen Guilliland. For those who haven’t read this - and I recommend it the following summarises some of the key background and context. Through the 1980s (and even earlier) women recognised that their rights for selfdetermination and choice in childbirth care could only be realised if midwifery autonomy was achieved. The consumer movement through this period acted as a catalyst for midwifery activism. Over the previous decades, midwifery had been subsumed by
nursing, and had somewhat lost its identity as a distinct and purposeful profession. The impetus of a strong and principled consumer movement both motivated and activated midwifery to organise itself politically and collectively to seek change. Due to the deeply gendered nature of the issues (both women’s autonomy over their own childbirth choices and midwifery’s professional autonomy), the dominance and patriarchal power and control of medicine, the events surrounding the change in legislation were inherently political. There was little understanding of the scope, role and nature of midwives’ work within the medical profession – and palpable resistance to midwifery autonomy by some. A coordinated and effective campaign for change by consumers and midwives was required. Women and midwives together formed a movement that was greater than the sum of its parts. The activism of this period also led to the establishment of the College, which became the vehicle for the profession to not only express its collective voice but also to eventually advocate for and develop the professional frameworks which were necessary to support and enable autonomous practice.
It can be easy to look backwards and critique what has been accomplished against what is still to be done. However it’s important that we all take a moment to pause and celebrate what has been achieved.
ALISON EDDY CHIEF EXECUTIVE
There was an incredible effort, political strategising, intelligent analysis, diligence and
ISSUE 98 SEPTEMBER 2020 | 5
