YOUR COLLEGE
scope of practice submission
health system reforms
The College undertook an extensive process of engagement with
The proposed operating model and high level structure for both
members in order to prepare a submission to Te Tatau o te Whare
Health NZ | Hauora Aotearoa and the Māori Health Authority was
Kahu | The Midwifery Council of Aotearoa New Zealand on the
released in early May. Although there is much detail to be worked
draft Revised Scope of Practice Statement.
out, the Health NZ | Hauora Aotearoa structure proposes a clinical
There was extremely strong support for the integration of
leadership team comprising four national director positions,
te Tiriti o Waitangi into the revised scope statement, and the
covering:
elevation of cultural safety to a level of equal importance as
• Medical
clinical safety. A large amount of feedback expressed confusion about the boundaries of practice and a request for more clarity around the
• Nursing/midwifery • Allied health, scientific and technical professions
clinical parameters of the scope and people for whom a midwife
• Primary and community.
can provide clinical care. The College’s approach of maintaining
The College (along with MERAS and the DHB Midwifery Leaders
the integrity of the revised scope wording, but adding text to
Group) have written to Health NZ | Hauora Aotearoa Chief
clarify areas where multiple interpretations have arisen, was
Executive Margie Apa, expressing our concern at the proposed
strongly supported by members.
combined nursing and midwifery leadership position, indicating
The College also identified the need for Council to promote
it is inappropriate for midwifery to be represented in this
te Tiriti o Waitangi education and opportunities for midwives to
way and advocating for midwifery to have its own, separate
explore the deeper meanings of the word whānau, in order to
leadership position.
support understanding and implementation in practice.
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HAUORA TAIWHENUA
TE REO MĀORI STRATEGY Te reo rangatira, te reo Māori is the first language of Aotearoa and a taonga which must be protected, promoted, spoken and respected.
The College board has agreed to establish a maternity chapter of the newly created multi-disciplinary rural health advocacy organisation Hauora Taiwhenua. This follows the College’s longstanding involvement with Rural Health Alliance
The College board has approved a strategy to increase
Aotearoa NZ (RHAANZ). Rural midwives Tawera Trinder (Taranaki)
and promote the use of te reo Māori in its documents and
and Kendra Short (South Canterbury) have been ratified by
communications, as part of the College’s wider commitment
the College board as co-chairs for the chapter. The chapter is
to te Tiriti o Waitangi. The strategy was developed with the
now seeking rural midwifery representatives from the College’s
support of tāngata whenua board members.
membership across the motu, so the breadth of issues facing
The inclusion of kupu Māori has increased within this magazine, with common kupu such as whānau, wahine and pēpi being used
rural midwives and maternity services can be included in the chapter’s work.
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routinely without English translations. Less common words are increasingly being introduced. College kuia Crete Cherrington notes the new scope of
SGA guideline consultation
practice and recertification requirements from the Midwifery
A new national SGA and FGR guideline has been in development
Council should also provide more opportunity (and requirement)
over the last 18 months and will shortly be consulted with the
to engage with te Tiriti and te reo Māori.
maternity sector. The guideline includes a comprehensive review
10 | AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND MIDWIFE
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