Hauora Māori Pānui: September 2025
Kia ora koutou,
Ko Tutamoe te maunga
Ko Waikaraka te marae
Ko Kaihu te awa
Ko Kai Iwi te roto
Ko Te Roroa te hapu
Ngati Whatua te iwi
Ko Dawn-Louise toku ingoa. I am honoured to serve as the Lead Fellow Māori Health at the RACP, alongside my clinical role as a rehabilitation medicine physician in Tāmaki Makaurau. Since stepping into this role last year, it has been a privilege to work with the Māori Health Committee, the Hauora Māori Team, our Māori Health registrars from 2024, Dr Samantha Jackson and Dr Tawera Wharetohunga, and many of you across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.
Together, we’ve made important progress – from launching the Māori Mentoring Pilot and Ki Uta, Ki Tai – The Māori Trainee Journey Map, to advancing the way we employ and support a new Māori health registrar. Applications are open until 28 September for the Māori health registrar role. These kaupapa strengthen pathways for Māori trainees and Fellows, ensuring your voices and experiences guide our work.
One of the most meaningful parts of this role is connecting with you – offering support and guidance as you navigate exams, training, and professional life. Please know that I, along with Cat Boyle (Senior Project Officer), am here to help and to connect you with the right resources whenever needed.
We have just held our second Māori Trainee Wānanga, which was a celebration of connection, learning and leadership. We look forward to seeing this grow even further with your ongoing involvement and support.
I also take this opportunity to reflect on koroneihana, for which I am aware some of you will have had the opportunity to attend in person. A year on from Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu passing, we continue to hold him in our thoughts and memories which for many remain alive and burning within your hearts.
As he said, “there is no greater protest than living your Māoritanga, speaking our language, and upholding our tikanga". His legacy continues to guide our work and so, here we are, steadfast in upholding those words.
It was a significant moment in history to listen to Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te pō deliver her first public speech remembering her father, his desire for unity between all Māori as well as sentiments on what it is to be Māori.
She said, “being Māori is forever, but we must continually nurture that expression of being Māori to control our own destiny”. I was inspired by her reflection; “it’s now 2025, we need to stop allowing external forces to hinder us. We need to walk a new path.”
Finally, I wish those preparing for the upcoming Divisional Written Examinations all the very best. Please don't hesitate to reach out, sometimes a kōrero or connection can make all the difference.
Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu – adorn the bird with feathers so it may soar.
Ngā manaakitanga
Dr Dawn Louise Adair
RACP Māori Health Committee Chair
LeadFellowMaori@racp.org.nz
This month we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori l Māori Language Week.
Born of activism, the week grew from a single ‘Māori Language Day’ set up in 1972. The seeds of a full week dedicated to te reo Māori were planted in 1974. By 1975 Te Wiki had found its footing and was off. Its growth and gains are what we celebrate 50 years on.
Te Wiki took place from 14 to 20 September 2025.
Māori Health Committee Strategy, Āhuru Mōwai: Rautaki 2025-2030
Earlier this year, the Māori Health Committee held a strategy development hui with Kaupapa Māori consultants, resulting in the creation of Āhuru Mōwai: Rautaki 2025-2030. The strategy sets a clear direction for Māori health within the College, guided by Te Pae Tawhiti - Mā tātou, Mō tātou. It aims to support Māori leadership in health, grow the Indigenous medical workforce, and embed Māori values and aspirations into College priorities.
Indigenous curriculum development
Work is progressing on the development of an Indigenous curriculum to embed Māori, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into postgraduate medical education. Recruitment is complete, and a scoping review is underway. A detailed project plan will be submitted to the Board in September, laying the foundation for long-term, culturally responsive education.
Advocacy for Māori health
Advocacy remains a central focus, particularly in response to recent challenges from the Aotearoa New Zealand coalition government. The Hauora Māori Team, Māori Health Committee, and Policy & Advocacy staff are actively engaged, including through a recent submission on the Regulatory Standards Bill, and preparations for anticipated changes to the Pae Ora Act and Ministerial Aboriginal Partnership Agreement with Stakeholders reforms. These efforts reinforce the College’s commitment to equity and improved healthcare outcomes for Māori.
Dr Matthew Wheeler recently presented an oral submission to the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Regulatory Standards Bill. His kōrero highlighted key medical and regulatory concerns, underscoring the importance of evidence-based policy.
For those interested, Matt’s appearance can be viewed from 2 hours and 11 minutes into the Subcommittee B livestream recording. You can also read our submission, and related media coverage.
The purpose of the Māori Health Committee is to uphold the place of Te Tiriti o Waitangi | The Treaty of Waitangi in Aotearoa New Zealand and the commitment of the College to Māori tangata whenua | Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand. The Māori Health Committee was established in 2007 and operates in a kaupapa Māori way according to tikanga Māori. In 2019, the Committee became a standing Committee of the Board.
Nau mai, haere mai
Since our last pānui, our membership has grown, and we are pleased to warmly welcome Dr Nathaniel Carter and Dr Tawera Wharetohunga to the Māori Health Committee. Their appointments bring valuable experience, insight, and a shared commitment to advancing Māori health equity within the College and across the sector. Both bring unique perspectives that will help strengthen our collective mahi as we continue to embed Te Tiriti principles, uphold cultural safety, and support Māori trainees and Fellows.
The members of the Māori Health Committee are:
- Dr Matthew Wheeler, Chair, Fellow representative – Haematology, General and acute care medicine
- Dr Danny De Lore, Deputy-Chair – Paediatrics & Child Health Medicine
- Dr Kristy MacFarlane, Fellow representative – Gastroenterology
- Dr Diana McNeill, Fellow representative – General and acute care medicine
- Dr Myra Ruka, Adult Medicine Division and Education Strategic Partnership Group representative
- Dr Fergus Stewart, Advanced Trainee representative – Adult Medicine
- Dr Jade Tamatea, Adult Medicine Division and Education Strategic Partnership Group representative
- Dr Tambra Trist, Fellow representative – Paediatrics & Child Health Medicine
- Dr Curtis Walker, Fellow representative – Nephrology, General and acute care medicine
- Dr Nathaniel Carter, Advanced Trainee Representative, Adult Medicine and Dermatology
- Dr Tawera Wharetohunga, Advanced Trainee Representative, Adult Medicine and Rheumatology
Pictured: The Māori Health Committee (left to right): Dr Matthew Wheeler, Dr Danny De Lore, Dr Deneille Bligh, Dr Kristy MacFarlane, Dr Julia Reid, Dr Myra Ruka, Dr Fergus Stewart, Dr Jade Tamatea, Dr Tambra Trist, Dr Curtis Walker, Dr Diana McNeill, Dr Tawera Wharetohunga and Dr Nathaniel Carter
We were privileged to have recently hosted our Māori Trainee Wānanga in Te Whanganui a Tara. We welcomed 13 Māori trainees, several Fellows, and a range of esteemed speakers who all contributed their time and wisdom to the kaupapa.
The wānanga was centred on whakawhanaungatanga – building connections, relationships, and collective strength. Over two days, trainees engaged in kōrero, workshops, and cultural activities that fostered both professional development and personal support.
The energy, openness, and manaakitanga shown by everyone involved made the wānanga a powerful and inspiring experience. We are grateful to all who attended and look forward to progressing the initiatives and ideas shared by our trainees.
Pictured: RACP trainees and the Hauora Māori Team
We are proud to announce the appointment of Nicky McCurdy as our inaugural Tumuaki / Head of Māori and Equity. Nicky has been leading the Hauora Māori team for the last year as as Kaitohutohu Ahurea | Cultural Advisor.
This change in role reflects the College’s commitment to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi and embed Māori leadership and equity across the College. Nicky brings extensive expertise in Māori development, equity strategy, and cultural leadership.
Nicky will continue to drive enduring change and ensure Indigenous perspectives are at the heart of all we do.
We’re proud to see Dr Keriana Kingi-Nepe, one of our talented Māori doctors, featured in the TVNZ documentary series, Diary of a Junior Doctor. The series follows five junior doctors navigating the realities of life, death, and everything in between at Aotearoa New Zealand’s busiest hospital.
Dr Kingi-Nepe brings not only her clinical excellence to her mahi, but a strong sense of cultural grounding and compassion. Her presence on the program is a powerful reflection of the growing Māori medical workforce and the leadership our whānau bring to the health system every day.
Ka mau te wehi, Keriana – we’re so proud of you.
Dr Clarence Kerrison (Te Arawa, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Awa) recently joined the bowel screening team at Fieldays 2025. He is a gastroenterologist and endoscopist with Te Whatu Ora Waikato and current Postgraduate Fellow in Endoscopy at Western Sydney Local Health District.
Held at Mystery Creek, the event drew over 110,000 visitors and remains the largest agricultural showcase in the Southern Hemisphere. Dr Kerrison brought his clinical expertise and commitment to Māori health equity to the Fieldays Bowel Screening stall, engaging with whānau and promoting the importance of early detection.
A highlight of the stall was a life-sized inflatable bowel, which visitors could walk through. It featured both healthy bowel tissue and visual examples of what cancer can look like — a powerful and engaging way to raise awareness.
Ngā mihi nui, Dr Kerrison, for your ongoing leadership and tautoko in this space.
Pictured: Dr Clarence Kerrison, Willow Brady and Jane Marsden
We had the privilege of attending Te Rā o Tā Māui Pōmare 2025 at Ōwae Marae in Waitara, honouring the enduring legacy of Sir Māui Pōmare – the first Māori medical doctor and former Minister of Health. The annual gathering brought together whānau, iwi, political leaders, and health professionals to reflect on Pōmare’s contributions and the ongoing challenges facing Māori health.
This year’s kōrero was particularly powerful, with strong messages from speakers including Pōmare’s mokopuna Miria Pōmare and Te Ātiawa leaders, calling out the Crown’s current health policy settings and reaffirming the importance of Māori leadership, data sovereignty, and tino rangatiratanga. It was also inspiring to see Māori doctors represented at the hui – a reminder that Tā Māui’s legacy continues to guide and inspire the next generation of Māori health leaders.
Pictured (left to right): Dr Jade Tamatea, RACP Māori Health Committee member; Ngāpei Ngatai, RACP Kaimanāki Oranga consumer representative; Dr Dawn Adair, RACP Lead Fellow, Māori Health
We’re proud to launch Ki Uta Ki Tai | From the Mountains to the Sea, RACP’s first Māori Trainee Journey Map. Co-created by Dr Dawn Adair, RACP Lead Fellow for Māori Health, together with Māori health registrars Dr Samantha Jackson and Dr Tawera Wharetohunga, this landmark work captures a holistic Māori worldview.
Using the river as a metaphor, flowing from its source in the mountains to the sea, the map symbolises the interconnectedness, diversity, and often non-linear pathways that Māori trainees take on their journey to Fellowship.
More than a visual framework, it is also a cultural statement. It affirms te ao Māori, celebrates multiple pathways to success, and places Indigenous knowledge at the heart of College systems. The map will guide how we plan, support, and deliver services that truly reflect the needs of Māori trainees.
This is one of several initiatives to embed cultural safety, strengthen Māori progression through training, and uphold our collective commitment to equity. We see this map as a living resource — one that will continue to shape meaningful, culturally grounded experiences for Māori trainees at the College.
Pictured: Page one of the RACP Māori Trainee Journey Map
In June, the College hosted its first pre-vocational webinar for Māori doctors. Dr Te Aro Moxon and Dr Diana McNeill shared personal insights into the physician training pathway, sparking lively kōrero and practical discussion.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive and due to strong interest from those who couldn’t attend, we’re delighted to be offering the same session again in November. Please share this with any medical students or prevocational doctors considering physician or paediatric training.
We are thrilled by the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our recent session. Due to strong demand (including from those who couldn’t make it), we’re running it again in November. You can register for the webinar now. If you know any medical students or prevocational doctors exploring a future in physician or paediatric training, please share this opportunity with them.
Register now
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we deliver care. To help you keep updated with what AI has to offer, RACP Evolve is launching a new three-part webinar series, hosted by Professor Ian Scott.
In this webinar series, we'll explore which AI applications are ready for adoption and how you can use it to enhance patient-centred care. You'll also find out about how AI can support your professional wellbeing and the sustainability of our healthcare systems. We may extend this series with additional webinars in 2026.
Upcoming webinars
Attend the series, or the webinars you can.
- Wednesday, 26 November 2025: How to use AI scribes and assistants effectively
- Wednesday, 18 February 2026: How to use AI to predict and prevent care-related harm
About the speaker
Professor Ian Scott is a physician and AI clinical consultant leading AI initiatives across Metro South Health, UQ, and the Queensland Digital Health Centre. He brings extensive experience in clinical informatics, evidence-based medicine, and AI in healthcare.
Register now
The Hauora Māori Team attended Te Oranga’s Wānanga-ā-Tau in July, supported by Dr Fergus Stewart and Dr Nathaniel Triffit. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet and connect with the next generation of Māori physicians and paediatricians. We shared insights into the medical profession and highlighted the support our Hauora Māori team provides to members, sparking meaningful kōrero and connections.
Our participation highlights the College’s commitment to walking alongside Māori doctors at every stage of their journey – from connecting with medical students early on to supporting them throughout their careers. We were inspired by the energy of the many students we met and were encouraged by their enthusiasm to stay connected with us.
We’ve recently completed our first round of kōrero with participants in the Māori Mentoring Program pilot, gathering feedback through interviews and surveys. The response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Mentors are motivated to give back and support the Māori workforce, while mentees are seeking culturally grounded guidance through key career transitions. Central to the program are te ao Māori and tikanga – not as add-ons, but as the foundation of the experience. Themes of whakawhanaungatanga, authentic kōrero, and kanohi ki te kanohi connection are already shaping this kaupapa and guiding how we continue to grow the program.
In August we marked RACP Aotearoa New Zealand Specialists Week, celebrating the vital contribution of specialists across the motu. Events in Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Tāhuna highlighted adult medicine, paediatrics and child health, rural practice, and trainee development.
Dr Matt Wheeler, Chair of the Māori Health Committee, opened the week with a video message alongside immediate past Aotearoa New Zealand President, Dr Hamish McCay. They recognised the important mahi of our members and emphasised the value of culturally grounded leadership in medicine.
Watch now
As the philanthropic arm of the College, RACP Foundation awards fellowships, scholarships, grants and prizes to those who strive to improve the healthcare we all receive. RACP Aotearoa New Zealand trainees and Fellows are eligible to apply for most awards. Please refer to the RACP Foundation webpages for information on specific eligibility requirements for each award or email the Foundation Team for more information.
There are a range of initiatives and opportunities available to enrich the training experience of Māori trainees. This currently includes:
Passionate about advancing Māori health equity and workforce development? Here’s your chance to make a real impact.
We are seeking an Advanced Trainee to take on the role of Māori Health Registrar – Hauora Māori. This unique, part-time position is designed to be undertaken alongside clinical advanced training, creating a combined full-time role over a one-year term.
Step into a role where your skills contribute directly to shaping a healthier future for Māori communities. Please submit your application by Sunday, 28 September.
As a valued member of our team, you will receive:
- competitive remuneration
- a flexible hybrid work mode
- additional paid leave between Christmas and New Year
- free annual flu vaccinations
- professional development opportunities
- access to our Employee Assistance Program
- special corporate discounts
Find out more
The Indigenous Leadership Fund provides funding to help strengthen the clinical and cultural leadership capability of Māori trainees and Fellows.
Work with an experienced coach (psychologist) online or in person to build confidence in your clinical practice, strengthen your leadership skills, and achieve better work-life balance.
Professional coaching is fully funded and completely confidential program is designed to support trainees at every stage. To get started, simply reach out directly to the coaching providers.
Clinical exam briefcases
For trainees preparing for the Divisional Clinical Exam and/or other relevant clinical exams, the College offers a complimentary exam bag to support clinical practice. A bag can be requested by emailing the Hauora Māori Team.
Would you like to represent your College? There are various opportunities available for you to get involved.
Current opportunities include:
More opportunities
The RACP Hauora Māori Team works in partnership with the Māori Health Committee to improve Māori health equity and support the growth of the Māori physician workforce.
In the last pānui, we introduced Cat Boyle, Senior Project Officer, Trainee Journey. Since our last update, we are excited to welcome three new team members, Nat Martin, who joins us as Executive Officer for the Māori Health Committee, Teremoana Porter-Rawiri, our new Senior Project Officer for Indigenous Curriculum and Te Aranga Hakiwai, Senior Project Officer for Hauora Māori Equity. Hāere mai ki a rāua!
Pictured: members of the RACP Hauora Māori Team (left to right): Dr Dawn-Louise Adair, Nicky McCurdy, Alex Kinsey, Cat Boyle, Nat Martin, Teremoana Porter-Rawiri and Te Aranga Hakiwai
Have a question for the RACP Hauora Māori 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.