Celebrating a Te Reo Māori title for Aotearoa’s nurse practitioners

Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Maori—Māori Language Commission has gifted a Māori language title to Aotearoa New Zealand’s nurse practitioners.
The Te Reo Māori title is mātanga tapuhi.

A celebration and blessing of this new title will take place at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington marae, on 5 November 2020.

Speakers at the event will include:

• Margareth Broodkoorn (Chief Nursing Officer, Ministry of Health)
• Dr Deborah Harris (New Zealand’s first Nurse Practitioner)
• Nadine Gray, daughter of Janet Maloney-Moni (New Zealand’s first Māori Nurse Practitioner)

Nurse practitioners have been registered in Aotearoa New Zealand since 2001. They practice independently and collaboratively and can prescribe for their patients beyond the scope of a registered nurse.

Dr Deborah Harris from the University’s School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Practice was New Zealand’s first nurse practitioner. She says that the gift of a Te Reo Māori title is a significant milestone.

“For me personally, the title of mātanga tapuhi is the coming of age for the role of nurse practitioner,” she says.

“The purpose of a nurse practitioner is to improve health care outcomes, increase access to heatlh care and reduce inequity for the people of Aotearoa. The language that we use is important and can help reduce barriers.”

Mātanga Tapuhi Celebration

1–3 pm, Thursday 5 November 2020

Te Herenga Waka Marae, 46 Kelburn Parade, Wellington

12.50 pm–Manuhiri (visitors) gather at the waharoa (gateway) on Kelburn Parade
1.00 pm–Pōwhiri
1.20 pm–2 pm Speakers
2.00 pm–Karakia to bless the new title
2.05 pm–Photos and refreshments in the wharekai

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