Abstract: The aim of this study was to describe the nature and size of long-term residential care homes in New Zealand; funding of facilities; and the ethnic and gender composition of residents and residential care workers nationwide. A postal, fax, and email survey of all long-term residential care homes in New Zealand was undertaken, with completed surveys received from an eligible 845 facilities (response rate: 55%). The majority of these (54%) facilities housed less than 30 residents. Of the 438 (94%) facilities completing the questions about residents' ethnicity, 432 (99%) housed residents from New Zealand European (Pakeha) descent, 156 (33%) housed at least 1 Maori resident, 71 (15%) at least 1 Pacific (Islands) resident, and 61 (13%) housed at least 1 Asian resident. Facilities employed a range of ethnically diverse staff, with 66% reporting Maori staff. Less than half of all facilities employed Pacific staff (43%) and Asian staff (33%). Registered nursing staff were mainly between 46 and 60 years (47%), and healthcare assistant staff were mostly between 25 and 45 years old (52%). Wide regional variation in the ethnic make up of staff was reported. About half of all staff were reported to have moved within the previous 2 years. The authors conclude that the age and turnover of the residential care workforce suggests the industry continues to be under threat from staffing shortages. While few ethnic minority residents live in long-term care facilities, staff come from diverse backgrounds, especially in certain regions.

Abstract: The author traces the nursing definition of biculturalism as it has evolved from the colonial period to the present. An examination of nursing literature demonstrates that local understandings of culture have matured beyond anthropological interpretations to a sociopolitical definition of Maori culture. The author suggests that, in nursing, culture has come to mean cultural safety.

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the evolving meaning of 'culture' in New Zealand nursing. Then, drawing upon the findings of research that used hermeneutic phenomenology to explore the experience of nursing people from cultures other than one's own, a description of the constituent parts is of this phenomenon is briefly outlined and followed by an exemplar that describes the coalescent and contradictory nature of the phenomenon as a whole. As New Zealand nurses negotiate the conflicts essential for ongoing development of their practice, interplay of the notions of prejudice, paradox and possibility is evident at intrapersonal and interpersonal levels as well as in relation to professional and other discourses.

Abstract: This paper reports a study that examined the factors that assisted or hindered the transition of a group of enrolled nurses to registration/degree programmes, via a flexible course developed by a North Island tertiary institution. The study follows ten enrolled nurses, primarily Maori and working in rural settings, as they continued to work while studying at a small satellite campus. The study was exploratory and descriptive, and utilised focus group interviews. Two major categories emerged from comparative analysis of the data. One category entitled 'relearning how to learn', demonstrated the cognitive and behavioural adaptations made and is the focus of this paper. The other category 'barriers and catapults', demonstrated the physical and environmental factors that influenced the students' transition but is outside the scope of this paper. Recent changes in New Zealand nursing education have witnessed the clarification of scopes of nursing practice and the controversial development of a new Certificate in Health Science (Nurse Assistant). Currently enrolled nurses are again facing threats to employment and it is envisaged that many will be seeking to undertake transition to registered nurse in the near future.

Abstract: This research is a study of the experiences of four cultural safety educators in nursing education in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Action research methods assisted the participants to implement change in their practice and gain positive personal involvement in the study. Reflective diaries provided the major tool in this process as participants were able to achieve at least one action research cycle by identifying issues, planning action, observing the action, and reflecting. The findings of the research revealed that the participants not only coped with everyday stressors of teaching but were also required to formulate knowledge for cultural safety. For the Maori participants, their stress was confounded with recruiting and retaining Maori students and macro issues such as commitment to their iwi (tribe). Lack of support to teach cultural safety was identified to be a key theme for all participants. An analysis of this theme revealed that many issues were organisational in nature and out of their control. Action research provided a change strategy for participants to have a sense of control of issues within their practice. Recommendations include the following: support for cultural safety educators to have a dialogue on a regular basis, the introduction of nurse educator programmes, paid leave provisions for educators to conduct and publish research so that a body of knowledge can be developed, and that Maori cultural safety educators be recognised for their professional and cultural strengths so that they do not fall victim to burnout.

Abstract: This paper summarises research which addresses the question What might constitute Maori nursing practice? The research design adopted was influenced by kaupapa Maori methodology and used a semi-structured, qualitative, in-depth interview process. It was found that by understanding the current experiences of Maori registered nurses, their reflections on their preparation for practice, and their current practice, it is possible to identify the present and future training and practice needs of Maori nurses. Maori nursing practice can be characterised as having five features: the promotion of cultural affirmation including cultural awareness and identity; the support of, and access to Maori networks; the adoption of Maori models of health; the enabling of visibility and pro-activity as Maori nurses; and, the validation of Maori nurses as effective health professionals. Three recommendations for promoting Maori nursing practice are made in relation to staff in the workplace and in nurse education programmes: all nursing staff need to be alert to: 1. the impact of western scientific models on Maori healthcare; 2. the (often passive) non-acceptance of Maori within mainstream institutions; and iii) the benefits of valuing indigenous nursing programmes.

Abstract: This article reports a research project that investigated the experience and expectations of Maori who were newly-diagnosed with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Four people diagnosed with NIDDM were interviewed over 12 months. Participant recommendations are incorporated into suggested improvements for managing the condition.