OBITUARY: MARGARET NORRIS

Obituary

much-loved matriarch of midwifery in the Bay of Plenty passes away

Margret Norris, much-loved matriarch of midwifery known affectionately as 'Marg', passed away on 9 August after a short illness. Marg's journey within the Bay's healthcare system spans decades and she was known by many in the different roles she had. However, Marg's heart was always working in midwifery.

Marg worked as a registered nurse and diabetes educator before commencing employment as a midwife in 1996. Throughout her career as both an LMC and employed midwife, she helped hundreds of mothers birth their babies and start their journeys into motherhood.

In 2000, she became the BOPDHB clinical midwife manager and in 2006 progressed to the role of midwifery leader within the Woman Child and Family Service. Marg was a respected contributor at both local and national nursing and midwifery leadership levels and in 2012 was appointed to the inaugural National Maternity Monitoring Group.

Marg briefly left the BOPDHB in 2017, to work as a clinical director for a private birthing service, and completed her Master of Health Sciences at this time. Her heart remained in clinical midwifery though, and she returned to where she started when re-joining Ko Matariki as a staff midwife. Her final contribution was establishing a hospital-based primary care service for the community in Whakatāne.

Staff at Ko Matariki will miss Marg's sense of humour, huge energy, enthusiasm, optimism, smile, and direct approach within the unit. Her knowledge, experience and consistent attitude of going above and beyond will leave a big gap within our service. In all her roles she was always the matriarch to the Ko Matariki team. Marg had thought about retiring on several occasions, but the call to serve the women and whānau of the Eastern Bay kept her within the maternity service.

Marg will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Midwifery Team - Te Whatu Ora Hauora a Toi (Bay of Plenty) square