Hauora Māori Pānui: March 2026
Tena koutou e ngā ope taua o tā tātou mahi kia piki ai i te hauora
Tū mai rā te maunga whakahihi e marumaru nei i a tātou
Kei tēnā rohe, kei tēnā rohe e mihi nei
E noho mai nei i raro tātou i te mana, i te korowai tiaki
Rere kau mai te awa e kawa nai i te wairua a kui mā, a koro mā
Kia waikuratia to rātou aroha, tō rātou mana ki ngā iwi e noho mai nei
Kei te mihi, e rere rā
Kua tangihia ngā mate, kia tuku atu ngā roimata aroha ki a rātou
Kua hinga mai, kua hinga atu nei kua whakangaro atu i te tirohanga kanohi
Haere haere haere atu ra
Haere i runga i ngā waka aitua, i runga i ngā maunga a o tātou tupuna
E moe nei i te moenga roa,
Huri noa, ngā hunga ora ki ngā hunga ora.
Huri noa, ngā hunga mate ki ngā hunga mate
Tihei mauri ora.
Welcome to 2026. The year has certainly begun with momentum. Here in Tauranga, a series of extreme weather events has already shaped how the year is unfolding, reminding us of both the challenges and resilience within our communities.
We have now held our first Māori Health Committee meeting of the year in Rotorua. It was a dedicated planning day focused on clarifying our priorities and mapping the work ahead. Several important projects continue, and we remain committed to progressing them with purpose and integrity.
Trainee journey
Over the past year, we have progressed the work started by the inaugural Māori Health registrars to map the full trainee journey – identifying each touchpoint across training, including before specialist training commences. We consider this core College business. We are firm in our commitment that this work must continue to create a comprehensive, culturally safe, and supportive training environment for Māori trainees.
The Māori Health Registrar role will be advertised for 2027 as part of the RMO annual recruitment cycle, embedding the role within Te Whatu Ora – 0.5FTE within the hospital and 0.5FTE within RACP. If you are an Advanced Trainee interested in expanding your management and leadership skills while progressing your training, I encourage you to consider this pathway. Please take some time to consider whether this opportunity may be right for you. Applications will open on Friday, 8 May. If you are interested please apply or if you would like more information, please email Dr Adair, Lead Fellow Māori Health at LeadFellowMaori@racp.org.nz.
Our Trainees’ Day is coming up on 13 to 14 August in Wellington | Te 13 me te 14 o Ākuhata Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Please save the date and let us know what support you need to attend. It is going to be a two-day event this year with the possible option of a noho marae. On Thursday, trainees will spend time at Paparangi Marae participating in Rongoā Māori, raranga and experiencing a masterclass with a well-known Māori chef exploring native plants used in the cooking of Māori kai. The second day will be held at the RACP Wellington Office, focusing more specifically on training needs, developing leadership skills and supporting wellbeing. It is going to be a fantastic event, and we would love to see you there.
Indigenous curriculum
This year marks the beginning of foundational work towards an Indigenous curriculum, with an Expert Advisory Group established to develop a framework to guide its development. Members bring expertise across Māori, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, clinical practice, medical education, and Indigenous health research. We will provide knowledge and guidance to support the RACP project team in developing a curriculum framework by the end of 2026. I am joined by Dr Danny de Lore, Associate Professor Paul Saunders, Ms Sophie Pitt, Mr Duncan Robinson, and Ms Tania Aroha Bailey in the group. We will be facilitated and supported by health researcher, Shirley Simmonds.
Our kaupapa
Finally, I want to briefly acknowledge the wider context in which our mahi is taking place. While Board matters do not directly shape the operational work of the Māori Health Committee, we understand that organisational challenges can influence how members experience the College and how confident they feel in its direction.
Our kaupapa remains steadfast. The purpose of our mahi is, and has always been, to advance equity and uphold outcomes for Māori as determined by Māori. This requires us to stay attentive to the dynamics that affect safety, belonging, and fairness, including rankism, sexism, racism, power, and privilege. These are not abstract concepts in our communities; they are lived realities that continue to shape Hauora Māori and our workforce.
What we can acknowledge is that many members across the motu are feeling unsettled or uncertain, and that this experience is valid. Our commitment remains unchanged. We will continue to focus on what matters most: calling attention to behaviours and structures that undermine equity, advocating for culturally sustaining practice, and grounding all we do in tikanga‑led approaches. This is collective mahi that depends on courage, honesty, and integrity from all of us.
Regardless of the environment, our efforts stay firmly anchored in Hauora Māori and in ensuring the College is a place where our people can stand, contribute, and thrive.
Looking ahead
We have decided to continue holding the Māori Health Hui every second year, starting this biennial cycle in 2027 instead of this year. Following the recommendation from the Māori Health Committee, the next Māori Health Hui will be planned alongside the Māori Trainee Wānanga next year, which will continue as an annual event. Dates will follow in mid to late 2026.
We are also planning a Māori Physician's and Paediatrician’s kai at Te Ora’s Hui-ā-Tau later this year – more details to come.
Nō reira. E rere ana te mihi ki a koutou,
Noho ora mai
Naku noa
Dr Matt Wheeler
RACP Māori Health Committee Chair
As we move into 2026, I feel both energised and deeply reflective about the next phase of our hauora Māori journey within the College.
A key focus for this year is embedding our mahi in a way that is sustainable and enduring. Rather than centring this work on individuals or roles, we are establishing a structure that carries the kaupapa forward collectively and strategically. Our aspiration is to ensure hauora Māori is embedded within the fabric of the College – not dependent on who holds a position but upheld by a committed Māori collective and supported at governance level.
Workforce development remains a critical priority. Although we are seeing increasing numbers of Māori entering medical school, we are not yet seeing proportional transition into RACP training pathways. Strengthening these pathways, and ensuring culturally safe, supportive training environments, must remain at the forefront of our efforts.
If our hapori and whānau are flourishing, our physicians will flourish too. That remains our guiding pou.
Nicky McCurdy
Head of Māori and Equity
We are pleased to formally introduce Te Waka Hauora. Te Waka Hauora translates to 'the canoe of health' or 'the vessel of wellbeing'. Within the RACP, Te Waka Hauora is the Māori Health directorate, providing Māori leadership, strategy, and direction across the College.
This reflects the evolution of the former Hauora Māori team into a formalised directorate structure.
Te Waka Hauora:
- governs and provides strategic oversight for all Hauora Māori initiatives within the College
- embeds Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations into decision-making processes
- strengthens Māori authority and leadership across organisational systems
- works in partnership with the CEO
- partners at governance level with the Māori Health Committee, which is a partner committee of the Board.
In addition to Māori Health, Te Waka Hauora also holds the Pacific Health portfolio at the RACP. This reflects the close relationship between Māori and Pacific health priorities in Aotearoa, while ensuring each maintains distinct leadership, identity, and strategic focus.
Te Waka Hauora is now the entity to connect with for all matters relating to Hauora Māori or Pacific Health within the College – from trainee support and workforce development to strategy and advocacy.
Te Waka Hauora staff includes: Dr Dawn Louise Adair (Lead Fellow Māori Health), Nicky McCurdy (Tumuaki/Head of Māori and Equity), Alex Kinsey (Indigenous Workforce Lead), Catherine Boyle (Trainee Journey Lead Te Waka Hauora), Teremoana Porter-Rawiri (Senior Project Officer, Indigenous Curriculum) and Natalie Martin (Māori Health Committee Executive Officer).
The Ngā Rangatahi Hauora – Future Health Leaders Fund is a new initiative designed to support rangatahi Māori who aspire to careers in medicine and health leadership.
Worth up to $1,000 NZD per successful applicant, this fund aims to remove financial barriers and open doors for rangatahi. It can be used for access to events, programmes, wānanga and kaupapa that build confidence, strengthen leadership capability, and provide exposure to medical career pathways.
The fund aims to:
- build confidence and leadership capability
- provide exposure to medical career pathways
- strengthen the future Māori health workforce pipeline.
Applications are open until Tuesday, 10 March 2026.
Find out more
Education Development Grants provide support to Fellows and trainees to undertake further educational training or to develop educational initiatives in the year of the award. Applications for 2026 funding open from Tuesday, 3 March to Tuesday, 7 April 2026. The following grants are available for funding in 2026.
Upcoming events
We’re excited to launch RACP LIFT 2026, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier event program for medical specialists, designed to satisfy your appetite for a richer blend of clinical insights, topical discussions and short form, highly digestible sessions that fit seamlessly into your busy schedule.
Upcoming events include:
Rapid-Fire Clinical Update | Paediatrics and transition to adult-care
Auckland | Friday, 8 May 2026
Don’t miss this Rapid-Fire Clinical Update which covers the latest clinical advances, emerging evidence and practice changes that directly affect your patient care.
Find out more
In Conversation
Wellington | Thursday, 29 October 2026
Join us in Wellington for an In Conversation, featuring Dave Letele (Ngāti Maniapoto/Samoa), whose work is deeply grounded in community health and wellbeing, with themes of culture, whānau, food security and collective resilience.
Find out more
The Pacific Trainees’ Day is an opportunity to connect with peers, participate in interactive sessions, and engage with Pacific leaders across the College. It will be held on Friday, 24 April at the RACP Wellington Office. If you have any questions, please email pacifichealth@racp.org.nz.
Register now
Please save the date for the Māori Trainee Wānanga, which will be held on Thursday, 13 and Friday, 14 August 2026 in Wellington | Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
This national wānanga brings together Māori trainees to:
- learn and share experiences
- build peer and professional networks
- strengthen identity and leadership
- engage in whakawhanaungatanga.
Please mark your calendar and consider submitting your leave application early. Registrations will open in March, so keep an eye out for the email invitation.
Pictured: attendees from last year’s wānanga
A series of regional networking hui will be held across the motu in 2026 to foster connection and strengthen our Māori membership community. Please save the date in your calendar.
- Auckland – Tuesday, 12 May
- Tauranga – Tuesday, 30 June
- Christchurch – Tuesday, 28 July
- Wellington – Tuesday, 25 August
- Hamilton – Tuesday, 22 September
- Northland – Tuesday, 17 November
We look forward to connecting kanohi ki te kanohi throughout the year.
Invitation to mock exam
A mock Paediatrics and Child Health Divisional Clinical Examination for Māori and Pacific trainees will be facilitated by Dr Liza Edmonds on Saturday, 11 and Sunday, 12 April in Masterton. If you’re interested in finding out more, please email our team hauoramaori@racp.org.nz and we will connect you with Dr Edmonds.
Access to mock exams
Does your hospital offer mock exams to help you prepare for the Divisional Clinical Examination? If not, we are here to support you. Please let us know and we will endeavour to link you in with other centres that have them available.
Are you a Paediatrics & Child Health trainee preparing for your Divisional Clinical Examination (DCE)? This upcoming webinar is tailored to support you in the lead-up to exam day.
Led by Developmental Paediatrician Dr Colette Muir, this practical and supportive session will guide you through what to bring, how to prepare, and how to approach the developmental components of the exam with confidence. Join us on Monday, 23 March from 7pm to 8pm and feel more prepared for your DCE.
Register now
Did you know you can get a complimentary physician briefcase?
We have briefcases with equipment available to Māori trainees eligible for the Divisional Clinical Exam or other relevant clinical assessments. Contact us to request your briefcase.
Te Waka Hauora provides support across the trainee journey.
Coaching support
Professional coaching is available to Māori trainees in partnership with a registered psychologist.
Coaching can support:
- exam preparation
- leadership development
- work-life balance
- managing workplace stress and burnout
- clinical and professional confidence.
Indigenous Leadership Fund
Financial assistance to support conference attendance, leadership development, and other opportunities that enrich the training experience.
Awards, scholarships, grants and prizes
RACP Foundation offers various funding opportunities, including the RACP Indigenous Health Scholarship Program and Aotearoa New Zealand Education Development Grant.
Mentoring, pastoral care and ongoing support
Māori trainees and Fellows are encouraged to connect with Māori mentors and peers. Te Waka Hauora can assist in identifying appropriate support within specialties or regions.
More information is available on the RACP website or by contacting the Te Waka Hauora team directly.
Would you like help to meet the research project requirements of your Advanced Training? A two-day intensive research methods short course on Foundations in Clinical Research and Critical Evaluation is being offered at the School of Medicine, Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland. The course provides a comprehensive introduction to clinical research and critical evaluation. Attendance can be reimbursed using CME.
Upcoming sessions:
- Online (lecture recordings): available from Monday, 16 March 2026 to Friday,15 May 2026
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Registration closes on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 6pm
Find out more
Adding your cultural background in MyRACP is important. This voluntary step supports our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles reinforced through the Paediatrics and Child Health Division Exam Review. Your input helps us identify and address barriers faced by under-represented members and ensure our programs, assessments, and support structures reflect the communities we serve.
We will capture, aggregate, and report this data to the membership to promote transparency and progress. To update your details, visit your MyRACP portal and select 'update ethnicity'.
For more information, please refer to the Diversity Data Collection Statement.
Access MyRACP
Have a question for the RACP Te Waka Hauora team
We're here to support you. Please contact us if you need assistance by emailing us on: hauoramaori@racp.org.nz
Do you need someone to talk to?
As healthcare workers who dedicate our lives to helping others, it’s important to take the time to care for ourselves. We would like to remind everyone that it's okay to not be okay. If you need someone to talk to, you can reach out to the RACP Support Program. It's a free, 24/7 and completely confidential support service that is delivered externally through Converge International.
Whether you have something worrying on your mind, are finding getting out of bed to be a struggle, or just feel like talking to someone for helpful, judgement-free advice, this free support service may be just what you need.
Make an appointment or speak directly with a Converge consultant on 0800 666 367
Any information you give to Converge is completely confidential between you and your consultant.