A new nursing training college in Te Taitokerau is oversubscribed, highlighting the success of Māori health practitioners and providers. However, health policy is undermining this progress.
NorthTec has launched a new Puawānanga Tapuhi Māori (Bachelor of Nursing Māori) course this year, with 50 students enrolled for the start date of February 24—more than double the intended 20 spaces.
Moe Milne, an experienced general nurse from Ngāti Hine, says the Māori health workforce has grown exponentially over the last decade, strengthening Māori trust in the healthcare system.
She says Māori have taken significant steps to train their own professionals to meet respected competencies.
“We now have te reo Māori speaking psychiatrist. That’s exciting. So we as a Māori nation have actually worked very hard to make sure our capability and our capacity has increased tenfold. It’s actually amazing. It’s really if you look at the Māori workforce now we have Māori everywhere, very qualified, very competent, very capable people,” says Milne.
Moe Milne says all students enrolled are deeply passionate about improving Māori health outcomes.
