NGĀ MĀIA

KATARINA KOMENE (NGĀPUHI, TE ARAWA), DEPUTY CHAIR NGĀ MĀIA TRUST BOARD

Ngā Māia: kawepūrongo mai ngā hau e whā

The newly elected trustees of Ngā Māia Trust Board are excited to share the mahi that we have been undertaking since our Hui-a-Tau in October 2021.

We have been working alongside the Ministry of Health on two significant contracts:

• Mokopuna Ora - pregnancy and parenting website review

• Health and disability system reforms.

A sub-committee has worked alongside board members, providing input into the mahi surrounding the health and disability system reforms and Pae Ora Healthy Futures Bill. On the recommendation of this sub-committee, we will continue to challenge the processes of the Transition Unit and ensure member engagement moving forward.

We have also worked with AUT to establish a position description for the role of Te Ara Ō Hine National Co-ordinator and determine how we, in partnership with AUT, will best meet the ongoing needs of tauira Māori nationally.

The Māori midwifery school kaupapa is back on the table following a promising hui with Te Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and members will be consulted for feedback after the next hui. Our current trust deed is also under review and at time of writing, plans to wānanga about this have been set for the end of May.

We are currently working with each Ngā Māia roopu around the motu to establish a Kaumatua Board, to ensure access to appropriate support not only for each roopu, but also for trust board members.

High on our priority list is a review of the new scope of practice document, which has been developed by the Aotearoa Midwives roopu, including our own long-standing and respected members Heather Muriwai and Beatrice Leatham. Initial feedback has been sent to Midwifery Council, but we have also requested a deadline extension so that we can send our draft feedback to members for consultation.

Other mahi your board members have been involved in as Ngā Māia representatives include:

• Tauira Māori hui advocacy - in all schools of midwifery • Ministry of Health - Transition Unit and

Mokopuna Ora • Te Ara Ō Hine (AUT) - administration of

Māori mentor funds

• College governance restructure (more

Māori representatives vs. Treaty partnership model)

• ACC legislation for maternal birth injuries.

Administrative changes and communication with varying organisations and individuals seeking advice/consultation with Ngā Māia on a variety of kaupapa, including representation on expert panels reviewing practice policies, abounds. A big mihi to our chairperson Lisa Kelly, who is taking the lead on some very challenging kaupapa at the moment.

We are acutely aware of the need to better and more frequently communicate with our members regarding the mahi we have been involved in on your behalf. To this end, we are in the process of establishing a new Ngā Māia Trust website which will enable us to communicate more efficiently with members and allow new members to register with Ngā Māia.

As a board, we have decided not to fill the CEO role with a permanent replacement at this time, but at time of writing we would like to hear from anyone willing to fill the role in a temporary capacity, until it is redefined. The person would in essence be the face of Ngā Māia Trust and the media spokesperson. Please contact either myself, Tamara Karu or Lisa Kelly to discuss further.

Lastly, the board would like to congratulate Ngarangi Pritchard on her position as tangata whenua co-chair of Te Tatau o te Whare Kahu, and Beatrice Leatham as the new Minister of Health appointed member. It is always great to have our own representing whānau Māori in these very important roles.

Ngā manaakitanga ki a tātou katoa. square