NGĀ MĀIA
LISA KELLY CHAIRPERSON NGĀ MĀIA TRUST (NGAI TAI)
Ngā Māia:
He warū ki runga he rarē ki raro. E te tī e te tā, e ngā kārangatanga maha o te motū, tēnā tātou katoa. As we leave the first quarter, we recall Matariki’s farewell for our departed ki Hawaiki nui. Heoi anō Ngā Māia Trust Aotearoa - Māori Midwives wish to acknowledge the outgoing trustees, Pauline Allan Downs & Ripeka Ormsby for their years of dedicated service. We also farewell former CEO Jean Te Huia, who has been shifting and evolving with Ngā Māia for the last seven years. Ngā Māia Trust is proud of Jean’s commitment
Many exciting activities are taking place
mātauranga Māori. A fair and equitable Treaty
to amplify the voices of those whānau
nationwide; Ngā Māia Trust are holding
partner would examine their relationship with
impacted by the poor application of the
important space for tertiary providers and
power and know there is no mātauranga Māori
Vulnerable Childrens Act through our national
the College to create partnerships, and
without Māori practitioners. We encourage
collective. Similarly her dynamic and special
together, realise the professional aspirations
one and all to behave in a way that upholds
character would champion and support
for recruitment and retention of both tauira
the tino rangatiratanga of tangata whenua.
our tauira Māori to navigate the struggles
and kaiwhakawhānau Māori. We aim to
A fair and equitable Treaty partner would be
of institutional & systemic racism. Kāore he
provide transparent and accountable
concerned that wāhine hapū will therefore lose
arikarika ngā mihi mōu e te manawa tītī o
governance while maintaining effective
access to highly skilled and valuable health
Waimarama me tō tira o Kahungunu. Ahakoa
two-way communications with our
resources from their communities. We watch
ngā piki me ngā heke he whānau kotahi tātou.
membership. We will complete a pre-existing
closely to see how birth choices for wāhine
service arrangement with the Ministry of
hapū will be erroded in an already pressurised
kura. Surrounded by koanga (spring) offerings
Health for the benefit of wāhine Māori and
western maternity system.
we are reminded of the potential a fresh
kaiwhakawhānau. Registrations of interest
start brings. Faced with significant internal
for projects will be forwarded to your rōpu/
transitions and worrisome challenges for our
rohe once available, to form sub-committees/
profession, we felt it was justified to turn to our
working groups to achieve these.
Mate atu rā he tētē kura, ara mai anō he tētē
membership for support and direction. After
We are acutely aware of the challenges our
Ngā Māia want to extend their heartfelt aroha to those who will cease to practice from 15 November and encourage all members to show care and compassion at this time. Equally, we wish to express our aroha and
much deliberation with our kaumātua kuia,
profession is facing as the vaccine mandate
a successful AGM elected four new trustees;
tautoko to those who have made the decision
divides us. We are very concerned that the
we therefore welcome Katarina Komene kei
to be vaccinated and remain in the workforce.
Māori midwifery workforce will be erroded,
Te Taitokerau, Jaydeen Waretini-Beaumont kei
with as many as 50 Māori midwives indicating
We are aware of the immense strain our
Te Waipounamu, Te Rina Joseph kei Tauranga
they will cease practice on 15 November
moana and Tamara Karu kei Waikato, who will
2021, of an estimated total of 100 nationwide,
join myself, Lisa Kelly kei Waiāriki, and Sarah
meaning the Māori workforce will make up 50%
Wills kei Te Waipounamu. We think this full
of those lost. Ironically, this will directly conflict
complement of six trustees is a reflection of
with Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill which seeks
a broader reach and an appetite for change
to design equitable access to health service
within our membership.
and enhance cultural capability through
16 | AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND MIDWIFE
further reduced workforce will be under and we will do everything in our power to support members through the challenges that lie ahead. E tautoko ana tō whānau, tō hapū i a koe otirā ki ō ōati, aue mau tonu e. Kia kaha! Kia māia! Kia manawanui!
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