Category: News Article

I have been a paediatric nurse for 8 years at Kidz First Medical, Middlemore Hospital. I have also worked in paediatric surgrical and the neonatal unit. I am a New Zealand born Niue woman and take pride in being able to say I am from “The Rock”.

Emily Fuika Soapi is a Tuvaluan clinical nurse specialist, currently in a secondment role working with Pacific Health, at the Auckland District Health Board on a project called Pacific Planned Care Navigation.

Being a Tongan male, I am aware of the barriers Pacific men face when seeking help and I want to play my part in removing some. I hope to use the knowledge I have gained through my training and life to better the health outcomes of patients, their family and wider community.

My recent experience as the Operations Lead at the Otara Community Based Assessment Centre (CBAC) located at South Seas Healthcare was one of the highlights of my nursing career and one that will definitely be part of history. The introduction of Covid 19 was a new concept that has made, and continues to make huge… Continue reading One of the best highlights of my nursing career

A group of academics caused some controversy when they proposed a Covid 19 Plan B to the current lockdown approach. I have much respect for these academics who have extensive knowledge and expertise in their field of work, notably not in the field of infectious diseases. In their rather mild defence, the science they reference has some merit, but was devoid of important context.

Akaue’anga (Duty of Care) – Every Turanga, Pirianga has Akaue’anga.  This is the acknowledgement and fulfilment of individual and collective duties.   This is a “Duty of Care” that is tied to each role we have.  As a son, my brothers turanga means he often checks up on my parents, making sure they’re watching what they eat or exercising in the bubble and in return they ask him how his day has been especially after a shift as an essential worker.

It’s day seven of lock down in New Zealand and after the rush of last week’s announcements and the pace in which everything has happened, I’m still trying to make sense of what it means to be in lockdown and why, even with everything that I know – I still feel a bit anxious.