November 04, 2020
Maori nurses standing up to racism
Nursing Association kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says online attacks on her and other Māori nursing leaders are a symptom of some of the systemic racism that needs to change.
Ms Nuku has revealed she has faced more than 18 months of targeted online abuse and even death threats, including on Facebook groups set up for nurses to discuss industry issues.
Last month a New Plymouth nurse had her registration suspended for two years for repeatedly making comments on the organisation’s page disparaging Māori nurses.
Ms Nuku says it shows what Māori nurses are up against when they raise concerns about pay differentials between district health boards and Māori and iwi providers, and the way Māori are less likely to get promoted or offered pathways to leadership.
"Despite it being so openly about me, this is about telling other Māori nurses that are getting bullied within the system that we've got to stand together and we cannot accept it, so let's identify the issue, let's call it and let's look at how do we move forward in addressing this systemic racism and the impact it has on Māori nurses," she says.
Racist attitudes among nurses also has a direct impact on outcomes for Māori patients.
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