Te Hītori o Te Kaunihera
The story of Te Kaunihera o Ngā Neehi Māori is one of leadership, unity, and a shared commitment to improving hauora Māori.
Since its establishment in 1983, Te Kaunihera has grown from a small collective of Māori nurses into a national voice - advocating for equity, strengthening the workforce, and supporting whānau, hapū and iwi across Aotearoa.
He Tīmatanga – Where it began
Te Kaunihera was born out of a clear and urgent need - too few Māori nurses were available to care for Māori patients, and culturally appropriate care was not being consistently provided.
In response, Māori nurses in Auckland came together in 1983 to share their experiences and explore how they could support one another. What began as a small hui of just eleven nurses quickly grew into a collective movement grounded in connection, shared purpose, and the desire to improve outcomes for Māori.
Te Whakatūnga – Establishing a national voice
The first national hui of Māori nurses in 1984 marked a turning point. It was here that Te Kaunihera o Ngā Neehi Māori o Aotearoa was formally named and its kaupapa established:
Waerea te ara ki te ora — clearing the way towards total health and wellbeing.
From this moment, Te Kaunihera became more than a network - it became a unified voice for Māori nurses, grounded in kaupapa Māori and committed to leading change within the health system.
Te Aronga – Leading change in Māori health
From its early years, Te Kaunihera played a key role in shaping national conversations around Māori health. Members contributed to major hui and worked alongside government and health leaders, helping to elevate Māori perspectives within the health system.
This period also saw the emergence of influential Māori health models such as Te Whare Tapa Whā and Te Wheke, reinforcing the importance of holistic, culturally grounded approaches to wellbeing.
Te Mana – Earning the trust of our people
Through a series of nationwide consultation hui, Te Kaunihera engaged directly with whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori organisations. These conversations helped shape the direction of the organisation and strengthened its role as a representative voice for Māori nurses.
It was through this process that Te Kaunihera was given a mandate to speak on behalf of Māori in matters of health and nursing - grounding its work in the needs and aspirations of the communities it serves.
Te Ao Hurihuri – Continuing the legacy
Today, Te Kaunihera continues to build on this legacy - supporting Māori nurses, strengthening leadership, and advocating for equitable health outcomes across Aotearoa.
The foundations laid by those early leaders remain central to our work: connection, cultural integrity, and a commitment to whānau ora.
Contact
PO Box 5051
Rotorua West, 3044
maorinursescouncil@gmail.com
027 816 7936