I was honoured to attend the recent memorial in Christchurch to acknowledge the 53 nurses who lost their lives. I knew it would be meaningful, but I hadn’t realised how much it would stay with me. Reading about them was overwhelming. I did not know that so many had lost their lives, and being there made me stop and think about each of them, and how much of our nursing history I still have to learn.

It was truly humbling to be in the first chapel of its kind that recognises nurses. And I want to acknowledge the many men and women who continue to keep their memories alive. I am grateful for the care they put into this. It means we can come into this place, spend time reading about these nurses and remember them. I don’t think I fully appreciated how much that would mean to me until I was there.

For me personally, being there gave me time to pause and remember. Time I don’t always make when there is so much going on. It helped put into perspective why we do what we do. We can get caught up in what needs to happen next, and sometimes we need that moment to come back to the people and the care at the heart of nursing. Being in the chapel gave me that moment. I hadn’t expected it, but I was thankful for it.

I have been fortunate to visit other countries and meet nurses fighting the same fight. While I was in the chapel, I found myself thinking about them. For some reason, being there connected us in a powerful way. I can’t quite explain it, but those connections felt closer. Many of the nurses remembered there did not die on our shores, and many who lost their lives in the Christchurch earthquake were from overseas. It reminded me that the value of nursing continues to cross borders. Wherever we are, there is so much that connects us in why we do what we do.

Reading their stories, I kept thinking about the people behind the names. Each had their own life, their own hopes and people they mattered to. There was a lot to take in. I didn’t leave knowing everything about them, but I did leave wanting to understand more. Some of what I read is still sitting with me. I think that is why having the time to be there mattered so much. It gave me space to think, rather than just read something and move on.

Keeping these memories alive takes care and commitment, and I don’t want to take that for granted. I am thankful to those who continue to do this, and who made it possible for me to spend time there. Because of them, others can learn about these nurses too, just as I did.

I also want to acknowledge Ruth Te Rangi and say thank you. I was grateful to have the opportunity to be there, and this is an experience that will stay with me.

After the memorial service, I was privileged to meet with Tapuhi Mana Tū. That time together strengthened my own sense of why I do this work. Then came an evening of political debates, which reminded me again why we must keep going. It was a lot to reflect on in one day, but for me, it all came back to why we do what we do.

I came away humbled and with much to think about. More than anything, I was grateful for the chance to pause, to remember these nurses and to feel that connection with nurses here and overseas. It is something I will carry with me as we continue the work we do.