E KORE A MURI E HOKIA

from the president, new zealand college of midwives, nicole pihema

Nau mai haere mai ki Aotearoa New Zealand Midwife

Workforce issues take centre-stage this issue, with a thorough assessment of our current situation on pg. 28, including a comprehensive account of the work being done by many behind the scenes, to relieve the pressure. Help is at hand, as the article details, and although we still have a way to go, much has already been achieved.

Recent health system reforms continue to dominate the healthcare landscape and the College’s member survey - which sought to uncover what midwives wanted from the reforms - reveals members’ top priorities, and how many midwives are working multiple roles. Check out the report on pg. 22.

Information regarding how midwives lodge ACC maternal birth injury claims is shared on pg. 18 and Carol Bartle invites us to re-evaluate our approach to blocked ducts on pg. 38, with a thorough review of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine’s updated clinical protocol on the mastitis spectrum.

Dr Ruth Martis promotes the environmental friendliness of homebirth on pg. 34, challenging us to consider the high use of disposable plastic in maternity care and its potential harms.

From Both Sides celebrates Aotearoa’s first Māori and Pasifika director of midwifery: Te Tairāwhiti’s Nerissa Walters. Featuring Nerissa’s voice and that of LMC colleague Beatrice Leatham, the spotlight is on a small community leading the way in the journey towards achieving true equity.

Wishing all midwives throughout the motu a joyful holiday season! Mauri ora, Amellia Kapa, Editor/Communications Advisor

Email: communications@nzcom.org.nz square

“E kore a muri e hokia”

The past cannot be returned to

(Smith, 1896:45 as cited in Mead & Grove, 2021)

As members will all be aware, the College is currently undergoing a cultural review. Being reflective requires radical self-honesty and has to be one of the most challenging tasks we face as humans and midwives. Doing this as individuals can be confronting and it’s no different doing it as a profession. The benefit, therefore, of outsourcing this mahi to external reviewers lies in their ability to view the situation with fresh eyes, emotionally unattached.

I look forward to the preliminary findings of the review, which will give us an indication of what changes we can begin to implement sooner rather than later, to evolve as an organisation. It’s crucial we reflect on what we’re doing, why, and how, honouring our Tiriti obligations to all members, every step of the way.

Te Tiriti isn’t a toy to be picked up and played with when we want to impress our friends, then put back on the shelf when it’s inconvenient. It’s a constant recommitment to a way of living and being.

Recently, I’ve found myself sitting with the word whānau. A reflection of te ao Māori values, whānau isn’t just referring to a nuclear family unit. Whānau includes all of Ranginui and Papatūānuku’s children, encompassing our forests, waterways - the entire eco-system. In fact, there probably couldn’t be a more inclusive term.

So my challenge to members who think it’s exclusive of women, is to go and experience it, rather than trying to grasp it intellectually. Take the time to visit a marae. Wash the dishes. Speak to the elders. If there is a hapū wānanga in your area, attend it. I can promise that if you do these things, your understanding of the word whānau will change and you won’t believe you ever thought wāhine or pēpi sat somewhere outside of it.

My other challenge relates to the planning of a Māori midwifery kura. There is similar confusion surrounding this kaupapa, with some believing this approach is separatist and could lead to division. This could not be further from the truth. Whilst it is many years away, the moemoeā (dream) is to have a truly kaupapa Māori driven way of learning and knowing; an immersion in culture and midwifery, and a truly authentic Te Tiriti-led programme that will meet the currently unmet needs of whānau.

Until the work is done, avoid the trapdoor leading to regression and miscommunication. It is not separatist, nor even race-driven. It is an acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by many, particularly our tūpuna and their uri in the name of ‘New Zealand’ and reinforces the rights that existed pre-1840, reaffirmed by Te Tiriti (Article II). Contrary to popular belief, we did not cede sovereignty, so if there was ever a time to support a way forward for all of our futures, this is it.

A kaupapa Māori midwifery kura is about respect; respect of our culture, tikanga and each other. So keep your hearts and minds open. Rather than perceiving Māori kupu, spaces, or individuals as intimidating because they are unfamiliar, my suggestion is to address why these spaces - both physical and metaphorical - are still so foreign to you. Opportunities to engage are all around you, and if you’re brave enough to reach out, you might be surprised by just how warmly and openly you are embraced and welcomed in. square