Te Aka Whai Ora is investing $1 million to develop more leaders within the nursing and midwifery workforce over the next year, in line with the goals of the recently released Health Workforce Plan.

Ngā Manukura: Clinical Leadership Programme offers a marae-based kaupapa Māori leadership development programme to aspiring and established Māori clinical leaders in nursing and midwifery.

The training consists of four two-day noho marae over a four-month period, with sessions designed to stimulate learning, discussion, debate, and action, including completing and presenting a health-based project demonstrating their leadership.

Jade Sewell, Maiaka Tau Piringa, Deputy Chief Executive - Service Development for Te Aka Whai Ora, says this investment is about supporting our existing Māori nurses and midwives and setting a clear pathway into leadership.

“The funding will see 100 nurses or midwives complete the clinical leadership programme, including graduates undertaking further training, by mid-2024,” Jade says.

“This funding is part of our efforts to grow the number of healthcare workers who can bring a deep understanding of tikanga - workers who can provide the kind of care that is aligned with Māori values, fostering trust and better patient-provider relationships, and who understand traditional healing practices, whakapapa and community support systems, leading to more holistic and effective healthcare interventions.

“Their training, grounded in te reo me ngā tikanga, enriched by mātauranga Māori and delivered within an ao Māori context, will equip them with the skills and support they need to make a difference for health and equity within their professions.”

Ngā Manukura is a well-established programme that has been running for 13 years. To date, 529 people have graduated and completed the leadership training over 27 cohorts.

Te Aka Whai Ora investment into Ngā Manukura aligns with the Health Workforce Plan recently announced by the Government, which outlines the current challenges facing New Zealand’s health workforce and the opportunities to address them now and in the future.

As part of the Health Workforce Plan, Te Aka Whai Ora in partnership with Te Whatu Ora will grow the number of kaimahi to address workforce gaps, set up workforce pipelines, and support more Māori into leadership and decision-making roles.