Day 1 | Cultural competence, hauora Māori and cultural safety
to support Māori health equity and outcomes
Māori and Pacific women's pre-diagnostic experiences of uterine cancer across Tāmaki Makaurau (the three Auckland districts)
This mixed methods study explores the pre diagnostic experiences of wāhine Māori and Pacific women with endometrial cancer in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Using Kaupapa Māori and Talanoa methodologies alongside a community survey, the research highlights significant gaps in endometrial cancer awareness, persistent diagnostic delays—particularly for pre-menopausal women—and the critical role of cultural safety, trusted primary care relationships, and whānau support.
Findings from women, general practitioners, and community participants point to inequities in access to timely diagnostics, variable primary care pathways, and the impact of bias and institutional racism. The study concludes with clear, actionable recommendations to improve public and workforce education, strengthen culturally responsive models of care, and enable earlier, more equitable diagnosis for Māori and Pacific women.
Dr Sarah Herbert (Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa) (PhD, MSc, BHSc)
Tumuaki Māori and Head of Equity
Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
Dr. Sarah Herbert has a background in critical health psychology specialising in Māori health equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi–aligned system responsiveness. She applies a decolonising lens to address systemic barriers contributing to Māori and equity priority group health outcomes.
Sarah’s career began in academia; lecturing in Māori health, before moving to regional, then national public health work where her focus was on developing equity capability initiatives aimed at strengthening system accountability to Māori health. Currently Tumuaki Māori and Head of Equity at the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, she leads the operationalisation of he rautaki Māori and strategic equity commitments of the College.
She is known for translating critical theory into practical system change, and for her relational, mana enhancing leadership approach grounded in kaupapa Māori and Te Tiriti obligations.
Dr Georgina McPherson (Cook
Island Māori / Pākehā) (DHSc, MN)
Nurse Practitioner
Waitematā District
Dr Georgina McPherson is a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner with 25 years' experience of working as a nurse colposcopist. Georgina is member of the ASCCP committee of management. She has been involved in HPV self-testing studies and has an interest in Pacific health, endometrial cancer and colposcopy research. Georgina held the role of chair of the revised NCSP clinical practice guidelines.
Dr Julea Dalley (Ngāti Pikiao,Ngāti Tarāwhai )
General Practitioner
Poutiri Wellness
A General Practitioner with a strong emphasis in Māori health equity, women’s health and education, I have worked in rural and urban centres as well as the Pacific. I am honoured to work with iwi and whānau in the Western Bay of Plenty.
Te Whare Tangata: clinical care and intergenerational support working together
This presentation explores Te Whare Tangata and the role of both clinical care and intergenerational knowledge in supporting wāhine across the life cycle. Drawing on traditional birthing knowledge and the transition into Ruahinetanga, we share our work educating whānau through wānanga about the role of Ruahine in nurturing kōhine, wāhine and mokopuna. Together, clinicians, Ruahine and whānau can support holistic care that honours both the medical and spiritual wellbeing of wāhine.Priscilla Te Hau
Founding Director
Te Ohomauri Innovations
Her work brings together mātauranga, lived experience and wānanga to strengthen intergenerational knowledge and support wāhine through life’s transitions. A key focus of her work is Ruahinetanga, remembering this stage as a sacred transition and elevation of spiritual growth, wisdom and responsibility within whānau, hapū, iwi and communities.
Through wānanga, resources such as the He Moko Puna journal, and whānau education, she works alongside communities to reconnect people with ancestral knowledge that nurtures holistic wellbeing.
Rīana Te Uira White-Haverkamp
Onekura (Traditional Birth Attendant and Maternal Support)
Ngā Kakano Ī Ruia Mai I Rangiātea Charitable Trust
Our focus is always reverence for the whare tangata and te haerenga-ā-wairua.I am a current PhD student creating a framework for oriori composition as an indigenous parenting model.
Māmā to 5 daughters & Nāni to 3 living on an intergenerational urban papa kainga where I was raised.
He Raa ki Tua – Advancing cultural safety in maternity care
Across Aotearoa, many whaanau are returning to traditional approaches to pregnancy, birth and early parenting as they connect with culture and strengthen whaanau wellbeing. These approaches draw upon maatauranga Maaori, tikanga and wairuatanga, offering a powerful and holistic foundation for welcoming peepi into the world.This workshop will introduce traditional practices within the childbirth setting and explore how we, as healthcare practitioners, can actively support whaanau to access, connect with and uphold their cultural practices within a Eurocentric health system. Grounded in the whakatauki “He raa ki tua” – A day beyond – this workshop looks toward a future where healthcare reflects Te Tiriti o Waitangi and supports whaanau Maaori to thrive through culturally safe, tikanga-informed practice.
Chloe Taylor
Clinical Midwife Director
Te Whatu Ora - Counties Manukau
Chloe Taylor is a midwife and clinical leader in Maaori health, based at Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau. With a strong focus on equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Chloe’s work centres on improving outcomes for waahine, peepi and their whaanau across Hospital and Specialist Services. She brings both clinical expertise and system-level leadership, contributing to service design, cultural safety education and developing Maaori health strategies.
Outside of mahi, Chloe has three tamariki and four cats and enjoys playing golf, swimming, cooking and gardening.