There are many different ways to think about and celebrate this time of year. The Matariki star signifies good health so it can be seen as a symbol which is truly aligned to the values of nurses who, every day, provide care and compassion to all our whānau and communities to enable their wellbeing.

With everyone leading very busy lives, Matariki is a space in which we can reflect and refresh. It is a time of hope, aspiration, and a new beginning. We can think about how our day-to-day mahi leads us to where we currently are, and where we hope to be in the future.

For many Māori, this is a time to connect with whānau, while acknowledging those who have passed away, to be thankful for what we have, to be relaxed and to be refreshed, ready for the next year.

This is also an opportunity to reignite the fires in hearts to protect iwi, hapū, whānau, and hapori. One way we can bring about positive change is to provide practices that integrate Te Ao Māori philosophies. This is a process that means responding respectfully to a Māori and/or Pasifika worldview, needs, and aspirations. We need to apply and continuously reflect on these in practice. As a profession, increasing our efforts to engage with, and make use of, all indigenous forms of cultural practice and competence will naturally strengthen and enrich our relationships.

Matariki is also an opportunity to be thinking and reflecting on our collective responsibilities to whenua/land. This involves the principle of kaitiakitanga/caretaker in practice and protecting our ‘taonga tuku iho’ treasures handed down by our Māori ancestors, which includes the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and meaningful tangata whenua participation.

Everyone needs to play their part in protecting Ranginui (sky father) and Papatūānuku (earth mother) and their children’s children. We need to look after our environment, and at the same time, think about and provide for the future ‘mo nga uri whakatipu’, our generations to come.

Cheryl Goodyer – Kaitohutohu Matua Māori | Principal Advisor Māori

Angela Joseph – Kaiwhakahaere Paerewa Ngaio | Director Professional Standards

Waikura Kamo – Kaitohutohu Neehi Māori | Nurse Advisor Māori