Ngā Ringa Tauwhiro o Aotearoa

The New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists is adding to its name and visual identity its own te reo Māori name, Ngā Ringa Tauwhiro o Aotearoa.

As a proud Aotearoa New Zealand organisation, having a te reo name reflects a fundamental aspect of our country’s heritage. It aligns the Society with many other health organisations who have done the same, and it recognises our commitment to te tiriti, to equity and inclusion.

There is no change to the NZSA’s English name. Our te reo name will sit proudly alongside it: New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists, Ngā Ringa Tauwhiro o Aotearoa.

Having a te reo name accompany our English name enhances the normalisation of te reo Māori and demonstrates our respect for this official language of Aotearoa. The name is a good start, but the Executive Committee wanted to accompany this with action. So, to begin with the NZSA has developed new high-quality, practical te reo Māori resources as a learning tool for members. To help you introduce a little more te reo in your day to day, if you wish to.

About our te reo Māori name, Ngā Ringa Tauwhiro o Aotearoa

What does Ngā Ringa Tauwhiro o Aotearoa translate to? Its metaphorical translation evokes imagery of unseen, nurturing care.

Ringa Tauwhiro, conveys an image of skilled hands offering calm, careful, and compassionate care. It speaks directly to the role of anaesthetists as the often unseen presence – nurturing and protecting patients’ wellbeing through their expertise.

 O Aotearoa, is a reminder that the Society is intrinsically connected to our country. It grounds our identity within the culture, values and people of this land.

If you’re interested, you can read more below about the translation of the individual words.

New member exclusive te reo Māori resources

These resources have been designed specifically to help members bring te reo Māori into your everyday – no matter where you are on your reo learning journey. Each offers short, simple words and phrases that are easy to incorporate into conversations with colleagues, patients, whānau and friends.

These initial resources are a foundation for additional resources to build incremental exposure over time. Learning associated with these resources could be used as an ANZCA CPD cultural safety activity, with a screenshot of the online resource used as evidence.*

How to access the te reo Māori resources

Members can access the new resources via the NZSA Member Dashboard here (NZSA login required).

They are designed to be easy to use. You can download versions ready to print that you can tuck inside a diary or attach to your computer. Or digital versions that you can save for easy viewing on your phone.

The NZSA partnered with Manawa Māori for this mahi. Manawa Māori are a leading provider of premium Māori language services and resources in Aotearoa. Their ‘learner-first’ approach to help learners connect with te reo in ways that fit modern life resonated with our intent when we embarked on this journey for the NZSA.

Introducing the NZSA’s te reo Māori name and launching these new resources over Matariki is no coincidence. Matariki represents the spirit of unity, collaboration and kotahitanga (togetherness) in what we do. As a time for remembrance, celebration, and aspiration, we are reminded that we are not alone in our journey.

As we celebrate the expansion of the Society’s name and introduction of Ngā Ringa Tauwhiro o Aotearoa, we build on the foundations of those who have come before us, and we look ahead to our future. Seizing this opportunity to deepen cultural understanding and weave our community with the heritage of the country that brings us all together.

*Page 22 – ANZCA CPD activity guide /Category 1 Practice evaluation – Reviewing performance