Māori Health Commitment
We recognise the evidence that the health and wellbeing of Māori has been adversely affected as the result of colonialism.
Physical and spiritual health outcomes have been and continue to be compromised leading to a gap in life expectancy and health outcomes between Māori and non-Māori peoples. We're fully committed to making a positive difference.
See more on this page about our initiatives, advocacy, and partnerships.
Our strategic vision
We acknowledge Māori as tangata whenua of Aotearoa and the foundational role of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in recognising the unique rights of Māori as tangata whenua and in protecting Māori values, customs and practices. This is reflected in our Constitution and strategic plan.
Key strategic initiatives include:
For Māori, the inclusion of an Indigenous Object in the Constitution demonstrates the commitment of members and the College to Indigenous aspirations and outcomes by:
- respecting and promoting Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- advancing justice and equity in health care for Māori communities
- acknowledging the value of te ao Māori and tikanga Māori.
The Indigenous Object provides a strong foundation for the College to continue to support better health outcomes for all Māori and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as outlined in the Indigenous Strategic Framework.
The Māori Health Committee provides leadership to support the Māori Physician Workforce.
Find out how we're progressing strategic priorities to improve health outcomes for Māori.
Initiatives
We have a range of initiatives and opportunities available to enrich the training journey of Māori members.
Indigenous Scholarships & Prizes
We have a range of scholarships that support medical graduates and current RACP trainees who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, Māori or Pacific peoples on their chosen career path to becoming a physician.
See Indigenous Scholarships & Prizes and Education Development Grants for more information on how to apply.
Indigenous Leadership Fund
The Indigenous Leadership Fund provides funding support to eligible trainees and Fellows for activities that contribute to leadership and development support. This includes but is not limited to conference attendance, relevant courses, cultural and leadership development opportunities.
All trainees who identify as Māori are invited to participate in one-on-one wellbeing and performance coaching. We have 2 external coaching providers in Aotearoa to appropriately awhi and Manaaki the participants.
The focus of coaching sessions is driven by participants, and discussions are confidential. Sessions can be done online or face-to-face. The program is fully funded by the College and currently includes:
- an initial kōrero to get a sense of goals
- a 90-minute session and up to 2 additional 60-minute sessions.
Contact Dr Matthew Shepherd or Luke Rowe if you'd like to participate or find out more.
Wellington
Te-Amokura Consultants
Lead coach | Luke Rowe
Email: luke@teamokura.co.nz
Phone: 027 478 9153
Māori Trainee Wānanga | Te Whanganui a Tara | Wellington on 14 – 15 August 2025
The Hauora Māori team will host the Māori Trainee Wānanga for Māori trainees in the Te Whanganui a Tara | Wellington on 14 – 15 August 2025.
This wānanga is dedicated to fostering whakawhānaungatanga within the Māori membership and nurturing tuakana teina relationships among trainees and Fellows.
The Trainee Wānanga is an important step in training and is a reimbursable event via the New Zealand Unions.
This is a free event, and registration is essential.
Register
Māori Health Hui | Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa Marae Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland on 27 June 2025
The annual Māori Health Hui will be held on Friday 27 June 2025 at Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa Marae, Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland).
This hui is an opportunity for the Māori caucus to come together, connect, and reflect on matters important to Māori members.
This is a free event, and registration is essential.
Register
Fellows can claim Category 1: Educational Activities Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for attending the Hui.
Māori Members Facebook group
The Māori Members Facebook group is a private online community for Māori members to connect with one another and College staff.
Feel free to join our group or reach out if you have any questions.
Complimentary physician briefcase
We have briefcases with equipment available to Māori trainees eligible for the Divisional Clinical Exam or other relevant clinical assessments. Email the Hauora Māori team to request your briefcase.
Fee Initiative
The Fee Initiative is for eligible trainees. It removes annual training and exam registration fees for Basic and Advanced Training.
Flexible Training Policy
Our Flexible Training Policy improves equity, wellbeing and inclusion in training, and ensures focus on educational outcomes is maintained.
Advocacy
We engage in policy and advocacy work to support health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Māori.
Indigenous child health in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
Our Indigenous child health in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand position statement (PDF) presents what we know about the current state of Indigenous child health and why it differs from the health of other children. It provides a guide to understanding our role in the elimination of health inequity.
Partnerships
We have longstanding health-focused relationships with many Māori health organisations and individuals.
These relationships empower the work of the Māori Health Committee, and strengthen the College’s cultural capability and the provision of culturally safe best practice approaches in our activities across education, policy development and advocacy.
Partners we work with
Te Ora Māori Medical Practitioners
Te Ora represents Māori doctors, researchers, teachers and medical students across Aotearoa.
Te ORA is a well-established Māori professional network offering a wealth of knowledge and experience. Every year it provides a range of support and development opportunities to support the careers of Māori medical practitioners and advocates for issues that matter for Māori in health.
Te Oranga - National Māori Medical Students Association
Te Oranga provides a range of opportunities throughout the year for students from medical schools to form strong connected relationships bound by a desire to provide healthcare that meets the needs of Māori. Te Oranga is also a voice and student advocate on health, political and social issues in Aotearoa. The RACP and Te Oranga are working collaboratively to advocate for the rights and aspirations of Māori medical students.
Leaders in Medical Education (LIME) Network
LIME is a bi-national collaboration between medical schools to improve the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning of Indigenous health and cultural safety in medical education. It fosters and supports collaboration, information exchange, and the sharing of best practice within and across medical education organisations in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, links across health science sectors, and connections with external Indigenous health stakeholders.
Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand
The Medical Deans Indigenous Health Strategy (PDF) expresses strong commitment, and commitment of medical schools in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, to equitable health outcomes for Indigenous people, through medical education and medical workforce development.
Artwork credit
Tāniko and Kōwhaiwhai patterns by Kaaterina Kerekere of KE Design developed for RACP.
The foundation of the Tāniko design comes from Waharua kōpito tāniko motif. This stylised version of the pattern refers to the notion of transformation and change that occurs at such meeting points. For the College it symbolises the trans-Tasman training relationship, connecting the Indigenous peoples of 2 nations and bringing together medical specialists with patients.
The stylised kōwhaiwhai design uses a combination of koru, koiri and an interpretation of kape motifs, generally symbolic of growth, continuity and persistence. The concepts of the individual elements interweave to form and support the foundations of Hau Ora (holistic health and wellbeing), through manaakitanga (caring), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), kotahitanga (unity), maramatanga (enlightenment), whanaungatanga (relationships), me ngā kaupapa rangatiratanga (leadership). These foundations or tikanga are referenced in this design through the six grey kākano – seeds, that are embraced by the koru. The 4 yellow kākano refer to the foundational principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi - partnership, protection, participation and wairuatanga.