WHAKAPAPA – About Us

Te Kaunihera o Nga Neehi Māori o Aotearoa, the National Council of Māori Nurses, was set up as an incorporated society in 1983, with a registered membership of 300, predominantly Māori nurses and community workers.

We have just celebrated our 40th Birthday for Te Kaunihera o Ngā Neehi Māori o Aotearoa (Te Kaunihera), the National Council of Māori Nurses this year. A milestone that has persevered through many changes in our health system, particularly Māori health and the services provided to Māori patients.

The council was established in 1983, with support from the Mana Motuhake Māori political party. The issue of health services provided to Māori patients by hospitals under the control of the Auckland Hospital Board was raised at a Mana Motuhake hui in Auckland in 1983.
The major concern was that Māori patients were not receiving appropriate hospital care, and this was exacerbated by a shortage of Māori nurses.

Two Māori nurses present at the hui, Linda Erihe and Turuhira Cunningham, organised a meeting of registered Māori nurses living in Auckland to enable further discussion of the issues by nurses.