He huatau momo atua tonu atu au huanga. E ngākau nui, i runga i ona whakaaro, ko tona kaha, me ona ringa whakangahau, he ranga wairua ki tōna iwi. E te tawhito, ka whakamihi atu ki a koe. E kaha tonu koe ki te akiaki, ki te hāpai ano hoki i te reo ōkawa. Ka noho tuturu tonu te oranga o te reo hei taonga tukuiho ki ngā whakatupuranga e whai ake nei.

In 2017 Moe Milne became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to Māori and health. Her contributions and leadership were summarised to read:

‘Mrs Moe Milne has been directly involved in addressing mental health issues in the Māori community in her roles as a psychopaedic nurse and as a general and psychiatric nurse. Mrs Milne has contributed to Te Hau Marire, the national Māori addiction strategy, and developed several education programmes that address Māori health. She has made significant contributions to Māori research at both policy and practice levels. She was a member of the Health Research Council and she chaired the Māori health research group that developed Te Ara Tika to improve research ethics with Māori. Her involvement has resulted in several important services for Māori, including an assessment tool for Māori with Alzheimer’s and support for Māori children with traumatic brain injuries. For the last decade she has been an active participant in the International Network of Indigenous Health Knowledge and Development, promoting awareness of health issues in Māori communities. She has spoken at a wide range of conferences within New Zealand and overseas to share her experiences and knowledge of health issues facing indigenous communities. For the past five years she has developed and delivered training in cultural competency within health services. Mrs Milne has been a member of the Māori committee of the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists for almost 20 years.’

Over the years, Moe has shared her expertise with countless others and is a respected leader. Her contributions to mental health and addictions include serving on Ministerial Advisory Committees, the Mental Health Commission Expert Advisory, and the Board of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. She has worked with national mental health and addiction workforce organizations such as Matua Raḵi and Te Rau Ora, provided expert advice to the Privacy Commissioner, and supported staff across mental health and addiction services. Moe is widely regarded as a highly valued kuia in mental health and addiction.

Her extensive knowledge of Māori health, education, and research has positioned Moe as a leader in numerous national developments. She is deeply committed to Māori well-being and ensuring that Māori are treated with respect and dignity across health, social services, justice, and education systems.

Fluent in te reo Māori, Moe is passionate about preserving and passing on Māori language, values, and culture to future generations. She inspires through her work as an educator, mediator, keynote speaker, author, songwriter, and advisor to the Health and Disability Commissioner. Her leadership in innovation, best practices, and Māori development is evident locally, regionally, and nationally. 

Moe continues to serve her community and is an inspiration to many:

• Ngati Hine Health Trust Trustee
• Mahi Tahi PHE Trustee
• Northland Community Foundation Trust - Trustee
• Emerge Aotearoa, Kaitiaki Tikanga Māori -Pukenga
• Tikanga Māori Concepts Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Enquiry
• Pukenga for High Court Takuatai Moana Marine and Coastal Area  hearings
• Takarangi Trainer for Corrections,
• National Health Coalition
• Child Psychiatrists,
• Medical school psychiatric registrars
• Oranga wahine hui- Te Taitokerau.  
• Na wai i teka reo Maori o Ngapuhi, Taumata Kura reo o Te Taitokerau -Kaiako.

Moe is fluent in te reo Māori (language) and is committed to ensuring that her whānau grasp hold of the values and culture of their ancestors.  She is an inspirational leader of Māori development locally, regionally and nationally. Celebrated for her contributions to individuals, whānau, and communities. Her presence is felt across marae, hapū, iwi, and far beyond, embodying the values and aspirations of her people.

E te manukura, e te kanohi kitea i runga i ōna marae, i roto i ōna iwi, hapū puta noa i te ao whānui ano hoki. Tēnei te tohaina atu ra ēnei maioha ki a koe.

Links:

Toi Ngāpuhi Deputy Chair  Moe Milne

A Non-Government Organisation’s Journey to Enhance Cultural Competence

Northern Advocate Article: Lifetime's work in Maori mental health rewarded, 5 June 2017

Milne, Caroline Harriette Eliza

Nursing Review Article: Lifetime’s work in Māori mental health rewarded, 22 March 2019

Toi Tangata: Meet Moe Milne, 2024

Tuia Te Ao Mārama| Māori Nursing Oral History Project Videos: Moe Milne, 2016 

Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry Disability, Deaf, and Mental Health Institution Hearing. Transcript of proceedings