Ministry of Health
NZ Government

The Maori Health Services' vision at National Women's is to recognise the concept of Mana Wahine in the delivery and planning of a women's health service. Maori Health will pursue a range of strategies to ensure that:

• Maori women feel empowered in their contact with National Women's Hospital

• Maori women are provided with choices in their birthing experience which includes traditional Maori practices

• Services are provided in a manner which is both appropriate and effective through:

  • the training of existing personnel and appointment of Maori staff with the right skills and experience.

  • links created and maintained which encourage greater participation from whanau, hapu and Iwi for effective discharge planning and co-ordinated services.

  • advocating effective policies to promote services for Maori women

  • the provision of information which is accurate and easily accessible to women

  • promoting the need for and supporting Maori Health Services to undertake research on factors which influence health care to Maori women

  • promoting and advocating for National Women's to collect and record Maori health-related data that is overseen by kaitiaki to ensure confidentiality

These aims would be achievable with the support of management and clinicians. Empowering Maori women in their experiences of National Women's will ultimately benefit all women and will ensure the hospital becomes the leading choice for women's health services in Aotearoa/New Zealand.