Te Waka Hauora Pānui: September 2026
Ka tangi te tīti
Ka tangi te kākā
Ka tangi hoki ahau
Tīhei mauri ora!
First and foremost, I hope this finds you all well as the spike in influenza and RSV gives us a late increase in patient numbers and sickness – just as the daffodils were sticking their heads up.
It is Manu Kōrero week for me in Tauranga, and I feel so lucky to have children who want to practise and learn (this at least). For my youngest, who is five, all she has to do is the tauparapara and her pepeha – but, man, she wants to give it a go, morning and night!
Over the last quarter, we have otherwise been all action and did not slow down for winter at all.
To those who attended the Māori Trainee Wānanga, I hope you had a fulfilling and useful time. We were able to connect at Zealandia and then learn together at the College over a full two days. It was great meeting more new faces and reconnect with others. To those who missed out, think about coming along next year. These are one of the few opportunities for us as Māori to gather at the College and support each other.
The creation and development of the Indigenous Curriculum continues, and we meet next month to see what it looks like and provide feedback. This is a great example of the College doing what it should, now that we have Te Tiriti embedded in the Constitution. This work will continue as we interlace it throughout all areas of the College.
The Māori Health Committee, together with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee, met with the new Board, Chair and President. We had a day of education from the Institute of Directors, including teaching about kotahitanga and Māori principles of governance.
This was a wonderful and heartening experience – seeing the appointed and elected members really listening to and absorbing these principles. It was important for the Māori Health Committee to start fresh with this new Board and ensure they understand our principles and values.
I attended the Te Oranga Kura Reo, and it was wonderful to see other College members there as well – celebrating and demonstrating what we do out there. It was awesome to see the next generation coming through and to share time with them.
It was particularly special, coming from Kāi Tahu, to be in the takiwā and have the opportunity to visit important sites such as Kaiapoi Pā and hear the kōrero from our people.
If anyone is feeling itchy at the lack of equity in action in Te Whatu Ora, remember there is always the College. We have many places and spaces for people to advocate in and are always looking for more trainees and Fellows – and we still have a space or two on the Committee itself.
Email us if you are interested.
No reira, e mihi ana ki a koutou i tō koutou mahi mutukore nei.
Tēnā koutou
Tēnā koutou
Tēnā koutou katoa
Otiria
Tena tatou katoa
Dr Matt Wheeler
RACP Māori Health Committee Chair
Welcoming new voices to the Māori Health Committee
We are pleased to welcome Dr Alice Reid to the Māori Health Committee. We look forward to the perspective and experience Alice will bring to the Committee and to the ongoing mahi to strengthen Māori representation, leadership and voice across the College.
We are still looking for Māori trainees to join the Committee
We are continuing our call-out for Māori trainees who are interested in contributing their voice to the Māori Health Committee.
Having trainee perspectives at the table is important to ensure the Committee’s mahi reflects the experiences, aspirations and needs of Māori trainees across the College.
If you would like to learn more about the opportunity, or would like to express your interest, please get in touch with Te Waka Hauora. Please email your completed expression of interest form (DOC) to maorihealthcommittee@racp.org.nz.
A hui was held on 19 August, bringing together Indigenous representatives to progress shared priorities and strengthen collaboration across the College.
Discussions focused on shared Indigenous health priorities, advocacy, education, governance and strategic direction, while recognising the distinct cultural contexts and priorities of Māori and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Key areas included the Indigenous Strategic Framework (PDF), demonstrating progress and outcomes, development of the Indigenous Curriculum Framework, and a more coordinated approach to Indigenous health advocacy. Members also discussed embedding Indigenous health equity, cultural safety, leadership and self-determination across College decision-making, with Indigenous perspectives considered early in policy and program development.
The meeting reinforced the importance of continued collaboration between the Indigenous Committees and Board to strengthen Indigenous leadership, improve health equity and ensure Indigenous health remains core business for the College.
Connection, whanaungatanga and professional development
The 2026 RACP Māori Trainee Wānanga was held in Te Whanganui-a-Tara in August. It brought together Māori prevocational doctors, trainees, Fellows and members of Te Waka Hauora for two days of whanaungatanga, kōrero, learning and professional development.
The wānanga provided an opportunity for Māori trainees at different stages of their journey to connect with one another, build relationships with Māori Fellows, and explore their experiences of training and working within the College. It also provided an opportunity to strengthen connections to te ao Māori, leadership and each other.
We would like to thank everyone who attended, contributed to the program, shared their whakaaro and helped create a supportive and welcoming space. We also acknowledge the who continue to give their time to support the next generation of Māori physicians.
Pictured: RACP trainees, Fellows and Te Waka Hauora team members at the recent Trainee Wānanga.
On 20 August, the RACP Board came together for a Kōtahitanga Governance Day, alongside members of our Māori and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committees and the Aotearoa New Zealand Committee.
Delivered in partnership with the Institute of Directors New Zealand, the day brought together kaupapa Māori with contemporary governance perspectives. It was an opportunity to strengthen relationships, learn from one another and think about what good governance looks like in practice across the College.
The discussions highlighted the value of partnership, inclusion and cultural understanding – and the importance of working together to strengthen governance and decision-making across the RACP.
Te Waka Hauora recently presented the College’s work on the Indigenous Curriculum at the Medical Council of New Zealand Cultural Safety Day held in August in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
The Indigenous Curriculum is an important part of embedding cultural safety and Indigenous health across the College's training and education.
It was valuable to share this mahi across the health and medical education sector. The positive response reinforced support for the College leading the way, showing how familiar cultural safety concepts can be applied in a practical way and encouraging others to do the same.
Pictured: Nicky McCurdy and Teremoana Porter-Rawiri presenting at the MCNZ Cultural Safety Day
Torohia is Aotearoa New Zealand’s annual national Medical Training Survey, led by Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa | Medical Council of New Zealand. The survey provides doctors with an opportunity to share their experiences of medical training and contribute to ongoing improvements in training environments across the motu. It is designed to support continuous improvement in medical education and training while reflecting the unique context of Aotearoa and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.
All Aotearoa New Zealand-based RACP trainees are encouraged to participate. By sharing your experiences through Torohia, you play an important role in helping shape medical training for current and future generations of doctors. Te Waka Hauora also uses the survey's aggregated findings to identify the areas where Māori trainees need the greatest support Findings enable us to direct our efforts where they are needed most and advocate for meaningful improvements to your training journey. The survey is open until 28 September 2026. Eligible participants will receive a unique survey link directly from Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa.
Expressions of interest for Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Congress (PRIDoC) 2026 have now closed, and we’re currently reviewing applications.
Funding is available to support a limited number of Māori, Pacific and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees to attend PRIDoC in Taiwan later this year.
We’ll be in touch with successful applicants once funding allocations have been finalised.
We’re working on providing greater support for Māori and Pacific doctors earlier in their medical journey, helping students explore specialty options and think about their future career pathways before entering vocational training.
On 31 August, we held a careers wānanga for Māori and Pacific senior medical students from across the motu. Building on our previous vocational webinars, the event focused on early career planning. We featured Māori and Pacific trainees and Fellows who shared their experiences and career journeys.
The wānanga gave students an opportunity to hear firsthand about the different pathways into medical and paediatric specialties, ask questions and consider where their own careers could lead.
Over Matariki, Te Waka Hauora attended Te Oranga Wānanga-ā-Tau, connecting with tauira from Otago and Auckland’s medical schools and future Māori doctors.
It was a great opportunity to kōrero with tauira about their aspirations, answer questions about medical training and the physician pathway, and share more about the opportunities and support available through the College.
These early connections are an important part of our mahi to support the Māori medical workforce at every stage of the journey.
At the end of July, we held our second Māori Networking Hui of the year in Tauranga, bringing together Māori trainees and Fellows for an evening of whakawhanaungatanga, kōrero and connection.
A big ngā mihi to everyone who came along and helped make the evening such a great kaupapa. These hui continue to be an important way for our Māori members to connect kanohi ki te kanohi across the motu.
The Te ORA Hui-ā-Tau and Scientific Conference commences today and runs until Sunday, 6 September in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. This year marked the 30th anniversary of Hui-ā-Tau, celebrating what it means to thrive as Māori in medicine through connection, learning, and kōrero across generations.
Unfortunately, Te Waka Hauora was unable to attend after severe winds in Wellington resulted in the cancellation of our flights.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the members who generously volunteered their time to support the RACP stand and to those who represented the College in the Shark Tank session. Your commitment ensured the College was still represented at this important event, and we are incredibly grateful for your support.
Ngā mihi nui to everyone who contributed to making Hui-ā-Tau such a special celebration of Māori excellence in medicine.
Pictured: Last year’s career stand at Hui-ā-tau featuring Nicky MCurdy, Dr Denise Bennett, Dr Erik Andersen, Dr Owen Sinclair, Cat Boyle and Teremoana Porter-Rawiri.
Kura Reo was held over the second weekend of August, bringing together Māori physicians and members of the wider Māori medical community for an opportunity to strengthen te reo Māori and cultural connection.
Several RACP Fellows attended, including Dr Matt Wheeler, alongside other Māori physicians.
These spaces provide valuable opportunities for our members to connect with each other while strengthening their reo and cultural capability.
Our regional Māori Networking Hui are an opportunity to connect kanohi ki te kanohi, strengthen relationships and build our Māori membership community across the motu.
The remaining hui for 2026 are:
- Hamilton – Tuesday, 22 September
- Northland – Tuesday, 17 November
Keep an eye out for further details and registration information – we would love to see you there.
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Career Triage is a two-day RACP conference designed for RACP Basic and Advanced Trainees, early-career Fellows and Overseas Trained Physicians preparing for the transition into independent practice.
Held on Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 November in Hobart, the conference will explore the realities of contemporary medical practice beyond clinical skills, with a focus on building resilience, adaptability and strategic thinking alongside clinical excellence. Session topics include medico-legal risk, culturally safe care, wellbeing and navigating the challenges of modern physicianship.
RACP will also have a strong Indigenous health presence at the conference. Dr Matthew Wheeler and Dr Josh Agnew are attending and will be part of the panel discussions. They will also lead the session 'Culture first, then care: reimagining clinical encounters through Indigenous lenses', alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee members.
Registrations are open. Find out more about the program, speakers, pricing and accommodation.
There may be an opportunity to access funding support through the Indigenous Leadership Fund, which supports our members to participate in opportunities that contribute to professional, cultural or leadership development.
Find out more and apply now
Supporting your training journey
Te Waka Hauora provides a range of opportunities and support for Māori trainees throughout their training journey including:
If you would like to kōrero about your training journey, need support navigating an issue, or would simply like to connect with another Māori physician, please get in touch with the
Te Waka Hauora team.
Find out more
Stay connected
If you have an upcoming kaupapa, event, achievement or opportunity that you would like to share with the Māori caucus through a future Pānui, please contact the Te Waka Hauora team.
Te Waka Hauora
hauoramaori@racp.org.nz
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.