August 09, 2019
Māori nurses address shortages
Māori nurses meet in Auckland today and tomorrow for a conference which aims to raise an army of Māori nurses.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says that echoes the words of Māori politician Apirana Ngata in the early years of the 20th century in response to an onslaught of epidemics killing Māori.
She says we need to be doing that again now because Māori people are dying at the same rates from non-communicable diseases such as heart disease.
A major theme of the Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference will be the Waitangi Tribunal’s recommendation for a complete redesign of New Zealand’s primary health system to better meet the needs of Māori.
It will also look at ways to address the 25 per cent pay disparity for nurses working in Māori organisations compared to those working in district health boards.
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