Te Runanga signs strategic plan.

Ko Putahi me Hikuranga nga maunga Ko Waiororo me Taumarere nga awa Ko Kohewhata me Matawaia nga marae Kei Kaikohe ahau e noho ana Ko Kataroina toku ingoa

As a fairly new member of Te Runanga o Aotearoa NZNO national executive komiti, I am delighted to contribute to the komiti's work and sound decision making. These decisions are shared with our members who are then supported to implement changes to their practice.

I am the proud mother of two adult children and have practised as a nurse in Te Tai Tokerau since 1975. I am a respiratory nurse specialist for the NorthLand Asthma Society, based in Kaikohe. At last month's Te Runanga hui in Wellington, we had a full representation. Our only vacancy is The Top of the South, which should be filled by next month's hui. The komiti is a very committed team and people are feeling excited about the future. Chair Brenda Close and vice chair Des Canterbury-Te Ngaruru are providing excellent leadership. Our business for the two-day hui included signing off on our strategic plan, business plan and budget for 2006-2011. Our strategic plan, which is aligned with NZNO's strategic plan, provides us with a good foundation for the next five years. It is based on the vision: Hei oranga motuhake mo nga whanau me nga hapu me nga iwi. We have four strategic goals: Rangatiratanga, which is about Te Runanga becoming the Leading Maori organisation in health; Whanaungatanga, which is about building relationships among ourselves and with other related organisations; Kaitiakitanga, to do with our guardianship role within NZNO and towards the health and wellbeing of New ZeaLanders (this involves sharing our knowledge and culture); and Kotahitanga, which is about our working together and making the partnership within NZNO work.

Before our December business meeting, we met for a day's workshop on NZNO's Positive Action in Unity and Aroha (PAUA) project, Led by the project co-ordinator Sharon CLair. This gave us a much greater understanding of the project and increased our skills in leading workshops in our own areas. The project is to become more member-driven, with workshops held at regional conventions this year, before being offered to other membership groups. CLair gave an update on these plans at our February meeting.

Over the Last year, NZNO's Maori membership has increased by 346, bringing the total Maori membership to 2450.

Nominations for the Akenehi Hei Memorial Award are now open, dosing in June. The award is open to all those who have contributed to hauora Maori. For more information, visit www.nzno.org.nz and click on Links to Te Runanga o Aotearoa. Our annual general hui will be hen from August 4-6, venue to be confirmed. Ki nga kai mahi maori katoa kia kaha kia maia kia manawanui. Ma te Atua tatau e tiaaki e manaaki iroto i o matau whanau me o matau mahi. Noho ora mai.