Kerri Nuku Kaiwhakahaere
Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO

Despite the difficult workforce and working conditions at the height of COVID, nurses were part of the critical workforce providing care under such extraordinary circumstances. Internationally hailed as heroes – the nurses didn’t ask for bouquets or applauds, they are trained and skilled to work under these exceptional situations. They asked not to be forgotten once the crisis was over.

Unfortunately, that is exactly what has happened.

Over the past four years, I have seen nurses challenge the political narrative that the health system and nursing workforce isn’t in a crisis, that workplaces are safe and adequately staffed and that health system is built around quality of care with the patient central to that care. While the reality is that nurses are still fighting for compliance with collective agreements, holidays payments, understaffing, and a lack of investment in health funding while there is criticism that nursing is the reason for the health budget blow out.

It is hard to image patients at the center of care when the language being used to describe the health sector seems more like a production line, words like productivity, efficiencies and effectiveness, and maldistribution of the workforce.

Almost two weeks ago in the build up to the Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference, in a media release, I spoke of the anger of Māori nurses fed up with the historical issues of underfunding, pay parity and working conditions. But additionally, the frustration amplified further as legislation is set to roll back the gains made by Māori since the passing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi Act almost 50 years ago.

The Coalition Government’s efforts to remove references to Te Tiriti from legislation and Crown entities, exemplified by the proposed Treaty Principles Bill, not only threatens to deny Māori as Indigenous people but to erase Te Tiriti/the Treaty in law.  From health, to education, to the environment, to social services, there will be no recognition given to Te Tiriti/the Treaty. While this is significant, it is yet another blow to the already numerous legislative changes attempting to dismantle mana Motuhake. From the dis establishment of Te Aka Whai Ora, rolling back the official use of te reo Maori, threats to Maori wards, repeal to smokefree legislation and diminishing the importance of whakapapa for children in state care through the remove of 7aa, just to name a few.

These nurses are not only committed to the fight to protect their tino rangatiratanga, but also to fight to protect the work they do as nurses, kai mahi and tauira.

Nursing is being squeezed everywhere and the role of the nurse will become less and less about the unique and intimate relationship between nurse and patient, but rather transactional episodes to meet production efficiencies.

Over the coming months, nurses must take to the streets and join together to fight back. 

Find your why and help create the future for nursing as nurses, health care worker, kaimahi and tauira!

Kia kaha!