Taima Campbell is a distinguished Māori nurse leader whose remarkable career spans over four decades, driven by an unwavering commitment to improving Māori health outcomes, championing nursing leadership, and ensuring equitable healthcare delivery.

With an impressive academic background:

• Master of Nursing Science with first-class honours, University of Otago
• Postgraduate Diploma in Business specialising in Māori Development, University of Auckland

Additionally, she has enhanced her cultural foundations with a Certificate in Te Pūtaketanga o te Reo from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and is a tauira of Te Whare Tāhuhu Kōrero o Hauraki, a wānanga focused on revitalise and preserve Te Reo Māori.

Since registering as a nurse in 1983, Taima has held influential leadership roles within the Waikato, Auckland, and Counties Manukau District Health Boards, where she spearheaded innovative initiatives in nursing, quality improvement, workforce development, and effective change management.

Currently, Taima serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Hauraki Primary Health Organisation (PHO), where she actively integrates kaupapa Māori principles into primary healthcare, emphasising culturally responsive care.

Under her visionary leadership, Hauraki PHO has fostered powerful strategic collaborations, playing a pivotal role in the creation of Te Tara o te Whai – Hauraki Locality. Through a strong commitment to community-led design, the organisation led extensive engagement to identify local priorities and shape a plan that reflects the aspirations of whānau. Among the many impactful initiatives to emerge, Niho Ora ki Hauraki, a kaupapa focused on improving dental health offering free mobile dental health care, stands as a proud testament to the collective strength and innovation of the community.

Taima served as a Workforce Development Advisor at Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority), where she championed transformative workforce strategies designed to uplift and advance Māori health professionals. A key highlight of her mahi was her instrumental role in establishing Ngā Manukura o Āpōpō—the Māori Nursing and Midwifery Leadership Programme. - funded by the Ministry of Health, this groundbreaking initiative empowers Māori nurses and midwives to lead with confidence, cultural integrity, and unwavering authenticity. Taima has been a nurse on the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal Member (Nursing) since 2022.

Taima’s dedication to Māori health extends passionately to rural and community healthcare, continually advocating for solutions that reflect the unique challenges faced by rural Māori communities. Her influential voice consistently reinforces the importance of embedding Māori perspectives into health systems to achieve genuine health equity.

Through her exceptional leadership, deep cultural commitment, and extensive healthcare experience, Taima Campbell continues to inspire transformational change, significantly shaping a healthcare landscape where Māori values, excellence in nursing leadership, and holistic wellbeing flourish.

Links:

Nursing ChampioNZ: Campbell. Taima 1 October 2024

ProCare announces changes to its Health (PHO) Limited Board New Zealand Doctor article 23 June 2022
Research Gate Profile – Taima Campbell