Waimarie Onekawa

As one of the programme leaders in the department, I have a responsibility to ensure that the coordination and administration of courses are robust and meet the standards required by Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and the Midwifery Council New Zealand (MCNZ). I oversee the entire curriculum and establish boundaries and consistency, lead curriculum reviews, plan the team's approach to learning and teaching, discuss and embed cultural safety and mātauranga Māori within the programme, and ensure our moderation processes are fair and rigorous.

As a lecturer, I actively participate in the facilitation of courses and learning & teaching in theory and practical papers. I have been a course lead for many different theory papers, and supported other course leads with the delivery of their lesson plans. I have particularly enjoyed being involved in lectures that include acknowledgement of and validation of Mātauranga Māori, and how we as a department can be more Te Tiriti Honoring in our approach to teaching. I am an active participant and contributor to various discussions and working groups involving Māori kaimahi and Māori advancement, and contribute to spaces that support AUTs Te Kahui. 

I have worked as a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) for a number of years in South Auckland. My lived experience as an LMC informs my academic work in the learning and teaching spaces at AUT, where my unique experiences brings real-life wisdoms to life in the classroom. I continue to work casually as a registered midwife, offering occasional locum support to home-birthing midwives. I see this as an essential opportunity that helps me stay connected with my community and keeps my finger on the pulse with what's happening at the coal face.

I am an active member of various Midwifery communities, some of which are: Treasurer and Board Member for Ngā Maia Trust; Mangai for Rua Pōkai Ngā Maia i te Rauroha; Panel Member for Midwifery Council New Zealand (MCNZ) for academic accreditations and/or competency reviews; Mentor for My First Year of Practice (MFYP) via New Zealand College of Midwives (NZCOM); Midwifery Standards Reviewer (MSR) for NZCOM. All of these roles contribute uniquely to my professional growth, but more significantly, I offer a Māori Worldview coupled with midwifery knowledge that assists me in my ability to serve my wider communities.

I have completed a postgraduate dissertation in 2021 that explored why expectant whānau Māori seek out the services of Māori midwives. I am now a PhD candidate, and I am approaching data collection in 2025. My research is titled: "Kia Manawanui! Kia Manawaroa! Exploring the experiences of Māori midwives who work as Lead Maternity Carers (LMC) in Aotearoa.