May 08, 2023
Whānau Ora recruits Philippine nurses
The North Island Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency is recruiting medical staff directly from the Philippines.
Chief executive John Tamihere says it doesn’t trust government agencies to resolve workforce shortages in the sector.
He says the Whānau Ora movement has 200 clinics from Poneke to Te Hāpua, and it’s short about 500 nurses and 87 general practitioners.
The professional credentials of the potential Philippine staff have been checked by hiring agencies, but the Whānau Ora team wants to interview them to see if they are a good cultural fit for Māori organisations.
“They are good people of faith. They have come from a tough background. They are whānau-centred. They’re a good cultural fit with us. They are people of colour. They understand racism. they go the extra mile and they treat our people like the outstanding human beings all Māori should be treated as,”Mr Tamihere says.
The first Philippine workers are expected in three months.