Nicola Ehau has spent over 40 years providing support and expertise in mental health, Māori health, and workforce planning. She has worked in a commissioning capacity for several District Health Boards, including Hawkes Bay, Hutt Valley, Wairarapa, and Nelson Marlborough.

Nicola started psychiatric nursing training at Carrington Hospital as a 17-year-old, and after a short break following her graduation, Nicola worked in Whakatane for a year. She returned to Auckland to work at Cornwall House, one of the first community-based mental health services where she specialised in whanau therapy, working with young people. During the 1980s, Nicola was part of the movement to bring about cultural responsiveness in mental health services. She was responsible for developing the first mobile nursing outreach service from Te Puia Hospital, Gisborne, providing care for people with lived experience of mental illness in the community.

Nicola then worked at Te Whare Marie Māori Mental Health Unit in Wellington, leading the services with the Acute Admission Wards at Porirua Hospital. She then went on to work for various health portfolios, including primary and community health, mental health and addictions, older persons’ health and Child, Youth, and Population Health.

Nicola developed a profile in contemporary Māori art and has exhibited many pieces since 1990. Returning to Auckland, she contributed to developing a community support worker training program at Greenlane Hospital's Learning and Development Service. She later conducted a nursing review for the Manawanui Māori Mental Health Unit, where she served as the Nurse Manager until 1999, fostering a dual-competent Māori mental health workforce and innovative service delivery.

Nicola's career then took her to Hawkes Bay, where she provided mental health cultural training alongside Mere Hammond. She became the first planning and funding portfolio manager for mental health, Māori health, and disability support services when the Hawkes Bay District Health Board was established in 2001. She subsequently worked in a similar role at the Hutt Valley District Health Board and then as the Māori Health Director at the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board.

In 2008, Nicola was appointed as the Director of Te Rau Matatini, the National Māori Health Workforce Organisation, where she made significant contributions until her return to Hawkes Bay in 2013. There, she assumed the Head of Health Services role at Health Hawke’s Bay Primary Health Organisation and served as Health Hawkes Bay's Head of Innovation and Development. From 2017 to 2022 she became Group Manager Te Puna Waiora Planning and Funding and Population Health. During that time she was seconded by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to the interim Maori Health Authority and Te Aka Whai Ora as Chief Advisor.

In 2022, she was appointed as the Te Manawa Taki Regional Wayfinder. She is responsible for providing rangatiratanga leadership to multiple locally based commissioning teams to support local communities and whānau with the goal of pae ora healthy futures.  

Nicola Ehau's diverse career has exemplified her commitment to both healthcare and the arts, leaving a lasting impact on the well-being of her community.

Links: 

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand – Nicola Ehau

Tuia te ao Mārama – Nicola Ehau Article and video Tuia Te Ao Mārama the oral history website of Māori mental health nurses.

Te Ao Māramatanga Whetū Kanapa Award 2018 New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses

Practice Managers and Administrators Association of New Zealand (PMAANZ)

Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance Article: Visit from Regional Commissioner Health NZ Nov 12, 2024