OUR MIDWIFERY WORKFORCE
AUTHOR
HEATHER MURIWAI
Clinical Lead Advisor – Maaori Midwifery
Maaori Midwifery He pou koorero (statement of intention)
Ko te tumanako a tenei poaari he whakarato i teetahi o ngaa taupori Maaori nui, taupori Maaori matatini, puta noa i te motu. Ko te whakakikokiko i te mana-taurite hauora Maaori teetahi o aa maatou tino whaainga. Ko too maatou hiahia ko te whakamana, ko te whakatinana hoki i te wairua me ngaa maataapono o Te Tiriti o Waitangi hei tuuaapapa i taa maatou e whai nei, me te whakapono nui -maa te aata whakapakari i te ara whakawaiora Maaori e taea ai te whakatutuki i te mana taurite hauora moo te katoa
It was with this intention as a focus that the position of clinical lead advisor, Maaori midwifery was created within the Maaori Health team. The position is a key senior midwifery leadership position, and Heather Muriwai (Tangahoe) was appointed to the role in July 2019. The lead clinical advisor, Maaori midwifery supports CM Health’s transition to a fully integrated whole-of-system approach that will ensure it becomes a leader in providing services to Maaori and whaanau. Recruiting and retaining a Maaori midwifery workforce and achieving health equity are overarching goals for the health board. They will be achieved by: • engaging with mana whenua and Maaori communities to establish strategic priorities for Maaori maternity and midwifery, and services for mama, peepi and tamariki • building and maintaining strong external working relationships with non-governmental organisations, primary health organisations and tertiary education providers
56 CM HEALTH
As a district health board, we serve one of the largest and most diverse Maaori populations in the country. Achieving Maaori health equity is a key priority for us. Our commitment to this is driven by our desire to acknowledge and respect the Treaty of Waitangi and our belief that if we are serious about achieving health equity for our total population, we must first strengthen our commitment and drive to accelerate Maaori health gain in our community. (COUNTIES MANUKAU HEALTH 2020/21 ANNUAL PLAN)
• maintaining a strong focus on quality improvement that enables innovation and challenges practice • optimising research opportunities with tertiary education partners to enable a research culture • leading and engaging the sector on Maaori health and workforce issues at a national, regional and organisational level • providing expert clinical advice. In the past year, we have worked towards achieving these overarching goals in Women’s Health by providing a strategic, operational and quality lens focusing on health equity and cultural safety across: • Recruitment and retention – there are currently 38 Maaori midwives (both core and lead maternity carer) working across the Counties Manukau region. A Maaori Midwifery Forum has been set up, enabling these midwives to meet quarterly for whakawhanaungatanga and professional development. We have also actively recruited Maaori
