Embracing Te Ao Māori
The New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe (NZVA) is working to honour te Tiriti o Waitangi and strengthen its commitment to Te Ao Māori.
This journey is an important part of supporting all of our members and building a more sustainable veterinary profession.
We began this mahi in 2022 when the NZVA participated in a te Tiriti o Waitangi workshop at Massey University. We realised there is a lot more we need to do to honour te Tiriti and ensure all members are supported to thrive each day. This is particularly important given the growing number of Māori becoming veterinarians.
In 2023, the association was proudly gifted the name Te Pae Kīrehe to use alongside our English name. It was gifted to us by Professor Rawinia Higgins, Māori Language Commissioner at Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori.
You are invited to watch a video about this journey below.
Honouring te Tiriti o Waitangi
As part of our ongoing commitment to honour te Tiriti o Waitangi, the NZVA, the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ) and Massey University’s School of Veterinary Science issued the following collective statement on inclusivity in the veterinary profession:
Honouring te Tiriti o Waitangi, together we will enable an inclusive, culturally safe veterinary profession representative of Aotearoa New Zealand, in which all members thrive and feel supported and valued for who they are.
- The New Zealand Veterinary Association – Te Pae Kīrehe
- The Veterinary Council of New Zealand – Te Kaunihera Rata Kararehe o Aotearoa
- Massey University School of Veterinary Science – Tāwharau Ora
The statement was the key outcome of a hui held in 2022 with representatives from the NZVA, VCNZ, Massey University and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). As a part of the public service, MPI has its own commitment to te Tiriti. The four organisations are working closely to support a sustainable veterinary profession that is truly representative of Aotearoa New Zealand.
You can read more about this statement in the October/November 2023 issue of VetScript.
