He uri whakaheke a Waimarama nō ngā kāwai whakapapa o Ngāti Kauwhata, o Rangitāne, o Tauranga Moana anō hoki.
Waimarama Durie stands as a beacon of excellence in mental health nursing and Māori workforce development. Guided by her whakapapa, Waimarama’s mahi is anchored in tikanga Māori and a vision for hauora equity across Aotearoa.
Currently, Waimarama is an Āporei (Principal Advisor) within the Ope Whakakaupapa team (Strategy, Ops & Planning team) at Te Whatu Ora’s National Public Health Service, contributing to national Māori workforce strategies and a Te Tiriti-led Hauora Māori Tūmatanui directorate.
In addition, Waimarama supports Te Rau Ora as a Māori Nurse Educator – Practice Development | Whare Whakangungu, where she leads the Huarahi Whakatū Professional Development Recognition Programme which supports the growth and recognition of Māori Nursing across Aotearoa.
Waimarama’s journey in Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) reflects her unwavering commitment to improving mental health care for the disproportionately high Māori population in the corrections system.
Her roles included:
- Senior Advisor – Toi Ora, supporting the co-design of an enhanced health service, inclusive of rongoā Māori within New Zealand prisons.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist – Mental Health at Mt Eden Corrections Facility, contributing to service development and delivery of a new mental health service while leading the outreach service
- Mental Health Clinician at Rimutaka Prison, providing therapeutic interventions and dismantling barriers to accessing mental health support in prison.
Her earlier contributions at Capital & Coast DHB and Te Whare Marie Specialist Māori Mental Health Service further highlight her dedication to enhancing kaupapa Māori health services.
Waimarama currently holds a Bachelor of Nursing from Universal College of Learning and a Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing from Whitireia Community Polytechnic. She has also achieved Expert-level certification in Huarahi Whakatū Dual Competence , a Nursing Council Accredited Professional Development and Recognition Programme (PDRP) specifically tailored by and for Māori Registered Nurses.
Beyond her professional life, Waimarama has a deep love for travel, finding joy in exploring the cultures and kai of South East Asia, South Korea, and Europe. These experiences have enriched her worldview and deepened her connection to the diverse ways people nurture their wellbeing.
Through her clinical leadership and unwavering dedication to hauora Māori, Waimarama Durie continues to uplift the mana of Māori within the health sector, ensuring that our people are seen, heard, and cared for in ways that honour our whakapapa and wairua.
Links:
Te Ao Māramatanga College of Mental Health NursesTe Ao Māramatanga – 2023 Conference Speaker
08 May 2025
