The Ministry of Health’s appointment of Margareth Broodkoorn as Jane O’Malley’s replacement in the Chief Nursing Officer role is being warmly welcomed.
Broodkoorn, the current director of nursing and midwifery at Northland DHB, is of Ngāpuhi and Dutch whakapapa and will be the first chief nurse of Māori descent since the forerunner of the role was created nearly a century ago.
Professor Jenny Carryer, executive director of the College of Nurses Aotearoa welcomed the appointment saying she has immense respect for the new chief nurse having worked with her as a former College board member and as a longstanding member of the National Nursing Organisations (NNO) group and NWAG (nursing workforce advisory group). “She is a strong knowledgeable and gracious leader and it is very exciting to see Maori nurse on this core role. She will have the total support of the College.”
Memo Musa, chief executive of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation congratulated Broodkoorn on her appointment and said she would play a vital role in working with NZNO and other nursing and health professional groups to advance and promote nursing’s role in a well-functioning health system.
Te Ao Māramatanga- New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses were also excited by Broodkoorn being the first Māori chief nurse. “It’s been a long time coming,” said the College’s kaiwhakahaere Chrissy Kake and president Suzette Poole
“Margareth has been integral in supporting our mental health and addiction credentialing programme for primary care nurses in the Northland region,” said the pair. “We look forward to working with Margareth in leading mental health nurses, addiction nurses and disability nurses into the future and continuing to grow the Māori nursing workforce.”
NZNO kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku and president Grant Brookes both welcomed Broodkoorn to the role and said they were looking forward to working with her.
Brookes added that the Ministry was operating under a fresh set of priorities this year and he welcomed her appointment as a “bold choice to lead the focus on these priorities”. “I greatly look forward to working with our new chief nursing officer in achieving equity of outcomes and contributing to wellness for all, particularly Maori and Pacific peoples.”
Te Ao Māramatanga welcome
Maranga mai…Takahia te ao ka kitea te iwi e tū tangata mai tātou ngā uri o rātou kua mene ki te pō
Tēnei te mihi ki ngā kai awhina e ki ngā whaea ngā matua anei rā ko ngā hua e puawai ana mai…
As the verse o Ngāpuhi waiata says rise up, make your mark on the world to be seen by all peoples that we [Māori] are people who stand proud, we the descendants of those who have passed onto the night, this is the thanks we give you. To the mothers and fathers, the fruits of your labour blossoming before you.
