“Tē tōia, tē haumatia”
Nothing can be achieved without a plan, workforce, and commitment.

Many of us know Amohaere Tangitū as whaea, nanny, and her various other titles depending on your relationship with her. She indeed has many connections in the community through her work in the Māori Health sector, her unwavering support in the wider iwi and her solid commitment to her hapū.

And it is right that she has now been honoured for her incredible services to Māori Health with the Order of Merit.

Whaea Amohaere, Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Maniapoto, spent 36 years of her career in the health sector advocating for cultural awareness and safety.

She was the Bicultural Parent Liaison Officer at Princess Mary Hospital, fostering relationships with kaumātua in Auckland through the establishment of Te Kāhui Kaumātua Council. She became the Manager of Māori Health in 1989, helped establish the Princess Mary Hospital Whānau House for families to stay in, and was involved in the planning and design of Starship Hospital. This initiative led to the launch of the Ronald McDonald House which opened in 1994.

She was a member of the National body of Whānau Āwhina Plunket from 2015 to 2021 and provided advice as a Cultural Consultant to New Zealand Red Cross and Alzheimer’s New Zealand. In 1994 she became the Iwi consultant in Rotorua Hospital where she implemented cultural processes alongside the hospital treatments.

In 1999 she became Senior Manager Māori Health of the Bay of Plenty District Health Board where she formed the Māori Health Rūnanga, representing 18 Māori tribes across the region within one forum.

Amohaere was the Director of Regional Māori Health Services from 2010 following the amalgamation of Te Whānau o Irakewa and Te Puna Hauora, providing health services for 22 tribes across the region, until retirement in 2018.