Māori nurses on a journey to advance their clinical practice or develop innovative ways to help Māori communities access and understand their medicines, were recently recognised at the 2025 Te Pātaka Whaioranga (PHARMAC) Tapuhi Kaitiaki Awards.
The awards acknowledge the mana and the mahi of 12 nurses who will receive grants sponsored by PHARMAC. They were presented with the awards in Rotorua at this year’s annual Indigenous Nurses Conference Aotearoa. “Each of these nurses has a special story to tell, but they all have one thing in common – their passion and aroha for the health and wellbeing of their people,” NZNO kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said.
“Māori nurses are not only dedicated professionals but great innovators. These awards provide a wonderful opportunity to showcase their day-to-day mahi for the betterment of their people, hei oranga motuhake mo ngā whānau, me ngā apū, me ngā iwi katoa.”
Of the 12 nurses awarded grants, two are from SIT: Billie Ellis and Te Aroha Moeke-Ormond.
Billie Ellis
Billie Ellis: ‘I want to be a culturally safe and compassionate nurse’
Iwi: Ngāti Hikairo–Ngāti Tuwharetoa
Award category: Māori Nurse Mātauranga
The 21-year-old is in her final year of a nursing degree at the Southern Institute of Technology in Invercargill. But while most graduates her age want to head to hospital emergency departments, Ellis has her heart set on working with Māori in the community. “I am passionate about becoming a culturally safe and compassionate nurse who supports hauora Māori and contributes meaningfully to reducing health inequities across Aotearoa.”
Ellis currently works part-time at Ngā Kete Mātauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust, a kaupapa Māori health organisation based in Murihiku Southland, where she gets to learn firsthand about whānau-centred approaches to care. “My role as a medical receptionist in the after-hours GP clinic allows me to work directly alongside whānau from all over Aotearoa who access services at some of their most vulnerable times,” Ellis said.
“I have learned that clinical knowledge alone is not enough to be an effective nurse in Māori health; empathy, cultural connection and the ability to walk alongside whānau with aroha are equally essential.”
Ellis is also keen on health promotion.
“I am passionate about educating whānau about their health to help reduce the disproportionate rates of chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and asthma, which continue to place Māori among the highest-risk groups in Aotearoa’s health system.”
The award will allow Ellis to continue her studies while maintaining her involvement in Māori health and would also support her future aspiration to work in both rural and kaupapa Māori health services. “I am committed to uplifting the mana of my people through nursing and embodying the principles of kaitiakitanga in every aspect of my practice.”
Te Aroha Moeke-Ormond: Caring and aroha come naturally to her
Iwi: Ngāti Porou, Rongomaiwahine
Award category: Māori Nurse Mātauranga
The 33-year-old solo mum is halfway through nursing studies at Southern Institute of Technology in Invercargill, with dreams of becoming a Māori nurse who not only provides excellent care but also uplifts whānau through culturally grounded education and collective empowerment.
Te Aroha Moeke-Ormond
“My hope is to walk alongside our people as a familiar and trusted presence in spaces that often feel cold and clinical.” Her first name Te Aroha name means the “loving, affectionate, caring, compassionate and empathetic” one.
It was during her aged care placement last year, where she cared for a non-verbal Māori woman who required full assistance, that she got even more bursts of inspiration to become a nurse. “When she saw me, her face lit up — no words were needed. That moment deeply affirmed how our presence alone can create connection and comfort for kaumātua who may feel isolated within clinical settings.”
“It reminded me of the powerful healing that comes simply from being seen, recognised and understood by someone who shares your whakapapa and wairua.”
Moeke-Ormond has also learnt how health literacy remains a major barrier for many Māori people. “Often, they’re handed medications without clear explanations or choices, which only deepens the mistrust. I want to help change this narrative.”
Looking ahead, she wants to create and deliver community-based wānanga that are safe, collaborative spaces where whānau can come together to learn about their medications, explore treatment options and build confidence in navigating the health system.
“These aren’t just distant dreams; they’re part of my intention to one day return home and work within my own rohe. I want to bring everything I’ve gained through study and experience back to my people, delivering care and education that’s rooted in trust and aroha.”
By Renee Kiriona. Reproduced with permission from Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand, the official journal of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation