- Te Rūnanga Regional Awards: Services to Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa Te Rūnanga
- Te Akenehi Hei Memorial Award
- Te Pātaka Whaioranga (PHARMAC) Tapuhi Kaitiaki Awards
Te Rūnanga Regional Awards: Services to Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa Te Rūnanga
He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata he tāngata he tāngata.
What is the most important thing in the world? it is people it is people it is people.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
As Indigenous Nursing, midwifery, Kaiāwhina professionals and Tauira we are committed to reaffirming our rights under the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Article 31 to self-determine, which underpins current and future Māori nursing strategy. Just as our early Māori nursing pioneers like Te Akenehi Hei realised, we have nothing to fear when moving forward. Our tīpuna made the sacrifice and we must ensure our future mokopuna, whānau, hapū and iwi receive the best health care available in Aotearoa, for generations to come.
Huraina Te Matarau speaks to the masks we maintain as we aspire to bring our entire selves to our lives and careers. The ability to walk and work in two worlds has long been reflected in our bicultural heritage, and documented as tensions between Pākehatanga ideologies regarding health, and te ao Māori models of wellbeing.
Te Poari and Te Rūnanga o Aotearoa recognise the value and difference that Māori nurses, midwives and Kaiāwhina make for the health and wellbeing of their patients, their whānau and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Rūnanga Regional Awards recognise this value, and the sacrifices our members make in its delivery.
Te Rūnanga Regional Awards will be presented at the Hui-ā-Tau Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference Hakari on Saturday 15 August 2026.
Criteria
The Te Rūnanga Regional Awards are in recognition of regional members who have supported members within their rohe by contributing to the development of:
- Māori workforce development
- Poipoia kua Puawai – tuakana teina support
- Responsiveness to Māori members and whānau, hapū, Iwi initiatives.
Nominees will be able to demonstrate these qualities in their nursing practice and must be active NZNO Members.
Awards will be presented at Hui-ā-Tau Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference Hakari on Friday 15 August 2025.
How to nominate a Māori nurse
To make a nomination download the nomination form, fill it in and include a brief profile of the nominee. When you're ready, send it to the Te Poari representative from the nominees’ rohe.
Nominations close at 11:59pm on Sunday 26 July 2026
Te Akenehi Hei Memorial Award
Te Akenehi Hei Memorial Award for significant contribution to Māori Health is the highest honour that can be awarded by Te Rūnanga o Aotearoa, New Zealand Nurses Organisation (Te Rūnanga). It is awarded every two years at the NZNO Annual General Meeting and Conference.
The Award was commissioned by Te Rūnanga in 2001 and is an NZNO award, under the kaitiaki of Te Rūnanga. This taonga was fashioned by two artists from Waiheke island, Paora Rangiuaia (Ngāti Porou) and James Webster (Te Waka o Tainui) from three varieties of stone: pounamu, māpere (white marble) and uriuri (dark basalt) and is mounted on pōhutakawa timber.
Te Akenehi Hei Medallion
As a symbol of recognition to honour the recipient, each is presented with Te Akenehi Hei Medallion to acknowledge their ongoing contribution to Māori nursing, whānau, hapū and Iwi. Recipients also become a life member of Te Rūnanga.
The medallion is a representation of the Akenehi Hei Award, its tactile outer surface represents the māpere, the uriuri and pounamu.
Te Akenehi Hei award criteria
The kōmiti is required to determine the successful candidate’s suitability and 'significant contribution to Māori Health', based on the information provided and using the following criteria:
- Rangatiratanga: Leadership role/positions influencing positive health and wellbeing outcomes for Māori - Whānau, hapū, iwi, urban Māori towards Whānau ora.
- Whanaungatanga: Ability to connect with others and establish effective working caring relationships - whānau, hapū, Iwi, urban Māori - towards Whānau ora.
- Kaitiakitanga: Provision of guidance, support, ability to empower and care for others i.e education, mentorship, engagement, whānau, hapū, Iwi, urban Māori - towards Whānau Ora.
- Kotahitanga: Demonstrates ability to promote Unity and establish collaborative working relationships to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes of Māori and others - whānau, hapū, Iwi, urban Māori - towards Whānau ora.
2026 Nominations opening soon
Te Pātaka Whaioranga (PHARMAC) Tapuhi Kaitiaki Awards
Te Pātaka Whaioranga Pharmac has established the Tapuhi Kaitiaki awards in conjunction with Te Poari o Te Rūnanga o Aotearoa as an acknowledgment of the role nurses play as a key influencer, advocate and positive role model for whānau, and their knowledge, expertise and understanding of tikanga, kawa, Māori health needs and practice.
These awards have been created to support Māori nurses to continue their studies and develop their clinical practice. Each year the Tapuhi Kaitiaki recipients are announced at the Hui-ā-Tau Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference.
Tapuhi Kaitiaki awards are offered in two categories.
Category One - Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Prescribing Award
This award acknowledges Tapuhi who are on a professional development journey to become a nurse prescriber or nurse practitioner. The award offers financial tautoko and manaaki to nurses who wish to complete additional study and clinical practice. There are up to four awards available in this category.
Category Two - Māori Nurse Mātauranga Award
This award is open to Tapuhi who wish to further their study in community focussed activities/development or would like to develop an innovative way to assist whānau, hapū and iwi to access and understand their medicines. There are up to four awards available in this category.
Criteria:
- Provide reliable documentation and proof of whakapapa (a supporting letter from Kaumātua or Te Rūnanga regional representative).
- Be a current financial member of Te Rūnanga and have a commitment to Māori nursing excellence within their Te Rūnanga region.
- Include the reasons why they should be considered for an award and include a 500-word essay about whakapakari strengthening their current practice for whānau, hapū and iwi.
- Complete and submit the application form.
2026 Nominations opening soon