NGĀ MAIA
LISA KELLY NGĀ MAIA BOARD MEMBER (NGAI TAI)
Ngā Maia:
Popoia te kākano kia puāwai (Nurture the seed and it will bloom) On 11 June 2021, Ngā Maia held its first ever national Māori midwifery student hui. 148 participants, including 65 midwifery students from across the five midwifery education providers attended our three-day hui at Houghtons bush camp, Muriwai Beach, Kumeu. Nestled amongst the ngahere, our tauira,
time with the launch of the joint project Te Ara
dynamic and powerfully authentic midwives
midwives and tautoko whānau were treated
Ō Hine – Tapu Ora between the Ministry and
who will push the boundaries, demanding
to a range of guest speakers and workshops,
the midwifery education providers, aimed at
te Tiriti is honoured across the spectrum,
including taonga pūoro artist Hira Moewaka
addressing the issues and many barriers that
ensuring equitable health outcomes for Māori
Latimer, who blessed us with the reverberating
tauira face while studying. One such issue is
and Pasifika whānau. This hui will be the first
hum of the pūrerehua and lulling tones of the
the lack of cultural sensitivity and knowledge
of many, to allow students to articulate their
hue puruhau. Rongoā, harakeke harvest and
of whānau Māori dynamics that impact on
needs and ensure they reach the end goal that
prep for pito ties, Wahine Marohirohi and Hine
students’ ability to complete their degree.
is their tohu, so they can then provide the care
ora hine tu, to name some of the matauranga,
We heard of single income māmā travelling
that whānau need and want and only we can
were all eagerley soaked up by those present,
long distances to attend school without the
give to our own: true tino rangatiratanga.
desperately needing to fill their half-empty
support of whānau, limited accommodation
cups with tūpuna knowledge. Facilitated
and no funds to support this hardship, while
group workshops allowed tauira to express
up regional roopu, with our latest addition
dealing with culturally insensitive marking of
their views on what’s working and what’s not
being Ngā Maia ki Waiariki. This rohe includes
papers and lack of tikanga processes within
within their midwifery schools, and it became
Tauranga moana, Whakatāne, Opōtiki and
the institutions. One could argue, why give
even more apparent the mamae felt due to the
the coast, Rotorua and Taupo, with 30 new
$6 million to the very source of failure for
disconnect between tauira and their respective
members. The roopu adds to our collective
our Māori and Pasifika students? You can rest
midwifery education providers.
of Māori midwives and student midwives
assured that these current midwifery tauira,
servicing our high Māori population with a
if nurtured, will bloom into some fierce,
booming birth rate. Now more than ever,
Our hui could not have come at a better
Ngā Maia have also been busy setting
as our whānau are facing more challenges forced by Covid-19, the presence of a Māori health provider goes a long way in making healthcare more equitable, in a system that continues to fail Māori at every turn. The day a woman can choose a midwife who shares her values, principles and hails from the same iwi, will be a day to celebrate, and at this rate we are not far off. Wouldn’t you want to choose this for your sister, daughter, Ngā Maia national Māori midwifery student hui.
niece and mokopuna? square
ISSUE 102 SEPTEMBER 2021 | 33
