Te Tiriti o Waitangi
The Nursing Council is committed to ensuring Te Tiriti o Waitangi is
instilled into the values of our organisation and is fundamental to the
way in which the Council undertakes its statutory roles.
As a regulatory authority, independent from the Crown, we have a
responsibility to work with iwi and Māori to give effect to and realise
the promise of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Achieving this will require time,
flexibility and the ability to self-reflect, at both Governing Board
level and internally as an organisation. With a specific focus on the
nursing profession, our success as a Council will be shaped by our
ability and capacity to form a range of relationships with iwi and
Māori.
Through convention, the Articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi have been
interpreted and expressed through a set of principles. Importantly, the
principles that we consider relevant to our work are premised on the
most recent Waitangi Tribunal Claim – Wai 2575: the Health Services and
Outcomes Inquiry.
We consider that this enhanced set of principles provide deeper clarity and guidance.
Self-Determination / Tino Rangatiratanga: The
principle of self-determination – this provides for Māori
self-determination and mana motuhake. This requires the Council to work
with partners in the design, delivery and monitoring of our relevant
statutory work.
Partnership / Pātuitanga: The principle of partnership –
requires the Council and iwi/Māori to work with each other in a strong
and enduring relationship.
Equity / Mana Taurite: The principle of equity – this requires
the Council to commit to achieving equitable health outcomes for Māori
through the functions that it is responsible for.
Active Protection / Whakamarumarutia: The principle of active
protection – this requires the Council to be well informed on the
extent, and nature, of both Māori health outcomes and efforts to achieve
Māori health equity through culturally safe nursing standards and the
practice of cultural safety.
Options / Kōwhiringa: The principle of options – this requires
the Council to ensure that all of its services are provided in a
culturally appropriate way that recognises and supports the expression
of te ao Māori models of care and nursing.
Ka whakahōnore mātou i tō mātou whakahoatanga Tiriti
– We honour our Tiriti partnership.
Mahi ngātahi ā mana
– We work collaboratively and with integrity by respecting each other and the nursing profession.
Whai haepapa, whai tika
– We are an accountable, effective and efficient Nursing Council.
Arataki, ako, whakapai ake
– We lead, learn and improve at all levels of the Nursing Council.
Wairua tōkeke hauora
– We set standards and codes of practice including cultural safety expectations that contribute to improved health equity for Māori.