The Government’s gutting of the Nursing Council has been condemned by the largest gathering of Māori nurses, kaimahi, kaiāwhina and tauira (students) in Aotearoa New Zealand, saying cultural safety should never be used to attack Māori.
Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO Te Rūnanga has just wrapped up its annual hui-ā-tau in Tamaki Makaurau.
NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says Māori nurses and tauira at the hui passed a motion rejecting the actions of Health Minister Simeon Brown.
"The Minister’s gutting of the Nursing Council board has led to a raft of resignations from respected and highlight experienced members of the Council’s executive. This includes the chief executive, the chief nursing education advisor and two legal advisors.
"Since late last year, Simeon Brown has replaced eight existing members, despite four of them wanting to stay on. Of the remaining four, two internationally qualified nurses resigned in protest and the other two members did not seek reappointment.
"The number of nurses on the board have now fallen from seven to four and there is only one Māori member left. Culturally safe health care is not ideology. Evidence shows it improves health outcomes for all New Zealanders.
"What’s happened at the Nursing Council mirrors changes at the Medical Council which the Minister admitted were made because of their " ideological agenda", Kerri Nuku says.
Te Rūnanga o Aotearoa hui resolution text:
"That this NZNO hui, the biggest gathering of Māori nurses, kaimahi, kaiāwhina and tauira in Aotearoa New Zealand:
- Strongly reject the attack of the Government on the Nursing Council.
- In particular on the Governance structure, Council members and the impacts on Nursing Council staff.
This hui in particular does not and never will accept cultural safety being used as a political football to attack Māori.
Māori nurses and tauira stand united with NZNO in their opposition to these changes and the proposed amendments to the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act that will sacrifice patient safety for political direction.