New Zealand College of Midwives announces new President

on 08 July 2019

Members of The New Zealand College of Midwives have voted for their new President.

Nicole Pihema of Ngāpuhi and Te Rarawa descent, is the first Māori President for the college.

Nicole said: “I am honoured to have been elected to this important role and look forward to getting my teeth into the many issues challenging our profession at this key time in our history.”

Nicole is a Lead Maternity Carer midwife in the Bay of Islands and has been registered as a midwife since 2010.

Throughout her career she has had many varied midwifery and maternity care roles, and is a key member of the New Zealand College of Midwives team working with the Ministry of Health on the co-design of a new, more sustainable funding model to replace the section 88 system.

“The College of Midwives has been working with the Ministry of Health for more than two years to develop a fit for purpose framework that better supports and remunerates community midwives now and in the future,” Nicole added.

New Zealand College of Midwives Chief Executive, Alison Eddy, said that Nicole’s appointment will support the College’s ambition in supporting Māori midwifery and continuing to work towards impartial and fair outcomes for Māori wāhine and pēpi.

She said: “Nicole brings a depth of experience, the support of her peers and personal qualities needed to lead the profession, and it is a significant step forward for the College to elect its first ever Māori president.

“I look forward to continuing to work with Nicole in her new role as President.”

Auckland midwife Caroline Muir was also a contender for the position.

“I congratulate them both for stepping up. Midwifery is an important, challenging and rewarding profession. It takes a lot of dedication and support for midwives to achieve the positive outcomes for women and babies that they do,” Alison added.