ONLY MAORI MATRON

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29776, 20 March 1962, Page 2

ONLY MAORI MATRON

Miss M. Keweme’s Career "The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, March 19 The matron of Te Puia Hospital, between Gisborne and Opotiki, is believed to be the only Maori hospital matron in New Zealand. She is Miss M. Keweme, who joined the modern hospital as a relieving sister and was later asked by the Waiau Hospital Board to become its matron. Miss Keweme, who comes from Mangere, began her nursing in 1941 as a contribution to the war effort. She left her position with a city law firm and enrolled in the first general nursing class to be held at Epsom Infirmary, now Green Lane Hospital. She trained in maternity and midwifery at Gisborne and Invercargill and was a ward sister in the National Women’s HosoitaL Auckland, when she left to go to Te Puia. English nurses emigrating to New Zealand have found the experience of working under a Maori matron not only novel but enjoyable. Many have stayed at the hospital long after their immigration contracts have expired. TePuia Hospital is a nurseaid training school with about 20 Maori nurse-aids on the staff. Maori nurses are making good progress in the nursing profession, and many have qualified as sisters. There is one Maori sister among the four on the Te Puia Hospital staff. Several Maori sisters had become district health nurses and were doing invaluable work among rural families, Miss Keweme said recently.