Source: NorthTec
NorthTec Kaitaia held an opening ceremony for the new Clinical Nursing Skills room at their Redan Road campus on Monday 8th August.
NorthTec’s CEO Toa Len Faneva and Te Amorangi Taipari Munro were joined by Haami Piripi (Heamana Te Rūnanga O Te Rarawa) and Bill Halkyard (CEO of Te Hiku Hauora) to open the new space for Kaitaia-based nursing students.
Haami Piripi lead the karakia and blessing of the new room, with members of the community and NorthTec in attendance.
“With the addition of this Nursing Skills room … we can see the petals of NorthTec unfurling into the regions,” says Mr. Piripi. “It is a sign of life for NorthTec and a sign of life for the area.”
The new skills room will allow Kaitaia-based nursing students to undertake some skills training at NorthTec’s Kaitaia campus, rather than travelling down to the Whangārei Raumanga campus to learn essential nursing competencies.
“This new skills room brings nursing training to Kaitaia,” says Mr. Halkyard. “It will make it easier to study by reducing travel and accommodation costs and time.”
The new skills room is designed to meet the needs of the community and Far North students and is also supported by Far North Māori health providers, specifically Te Hiku Hauora.
“We need the support of our iwi and Māori health providers,” says Mr. Faneva. “We cannot do it alone. We are grateful for all the support we have received to date and look forward to working together to supply opportunities for students in our regions.”
Along with the opening of the room, a Pōwhiri was held for the new Kaiako Māori Janine Popata, who will be joining the nursing teaching staff in Kaitaia.
“We hope this will be a building block to support nursing in Te Tai Tokerau,” says Mr. Faneva. “If there is a street for us in Te Tai Tokerau, it’s hauora and health. That is what we are about up here.”
