Te ORA

We are a unique organisation representing Māori medical students and medical practitioners working as specialists, clinicians, researchers and teachers. We currently have over 250 Māori students and medical practitioners registered with us.

Aims

We aim to:

• promote and protect the health of Māori people
• assist Māori medical practitioners in their efforts to advance Māori health
• facilitate closer links between Māori medical practitioners and other national, professional and community groups.

Te ORA recognises and promotes health as a taonga (treasure) whose protection is guaranteed by the Treaty of Waitangi.

Professional Initiatives

We aim to:

• provide a supportive network for Māori medical practitioners
• facilitate the exchange of views and information among Māori medical practitioners
• foster collegial relationships
• establish links with other related professional bodies, including other indigenous medical and health organisations.

Medical Education

Te ORA aims to:

• promote the recruitment and retention of Māori medical students
• provide advice on strategies for increasing Māori entry into all levels of medical education and the development of an expanded Māori medical workforce
• provide guidance on the curriculum for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education
• assist members to obtain the skills and competencies that will enable them to actively participate in Māori society.
  

Te Wheke Alliance

Te ORA is proud to be a member of the Te Wheke Alliance which is an active and strategic relationship between Te ORA and Ngā Ngaru Hauora o Aotearoa  (The National Māori  Health Providers Association), Te Kaunihera o Ngā Neehi Māori o Aotearoa (National Council of Māori  Nurses) and Ngā Maia Midwives Collective.

Te Reo and Tikanga Training

Te ORA has established funding to support members to undertake Te Reo Māori (Māori language) and tikanga (Māori customs) training. These were identified as key skills required to be an effective Māori doctor in the report commissioned by Te ORA, 'Kokiritia: An analysis of Māori doctors' training needs' (Baxter, 2001).

Te Oranga

Te Oranga is the Māori Medical Student's Association, representing students from Year 1 to Year 6. Te Oranga works in collaboration with Te ORA to mentor and support Maōri medical students.

Email: teoranga@teora.maori.nz

 

RECENT ACTIVITIES

AGM and Scientific Conference

Annual meetings are held with Scientific Conferences where Te ORA members and other organisations present health research and issues of importance to Māori health. Our 2009 conference and AGM was held on 11-13 September.

General Practitioner Peer Support (Primary Health Care)

The GP Peer Group meets quarterly to provide collegial, personal and professional development for Māori general practitioners. This includes regular continuing medical education meetings held within a Māori appropriate context.

Te Ngākau

The Te Ngākau programme provides confidential oversight from senior Te ORA members for those who may be at risk and in need of support and mentoring.

Scholarships/Studentships/Fellowships

This year Te ORA has coordinated:

• the Henry Rongomau Bennett scholarships awarded to support six Māori doctors training in psychiatry
• the GSK Māori health research fellowship.

OUR HISTORY

A group of Māori medical practitioners met in 1995 to establish Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa. The inaugural annual meeting (Hui-ā-Tau) took place in 1996, where a constitution was ratified, an executive elected and the legal status of an incorporated society obtained.

The second Hui-ā-tau was held in early 1998. The first Scientific Conference was held in conjunction with this annual meeting to promote information exchange and present member’s scientific and research work.  Hui-ā-Tau and Scientific conferences have been held annually since then.