Te Hononga celebrates Pirihira Puata, who is normalising te reo Māori within healthcare, one prescription at a time.
In a recent feature published by Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand, Pirihira Puata shared how she’s bringing te reo Māori into everyday pharmacy practice, rewriting the script, literally.
At the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau, nurse prescriber Pirihira Puata is proving that language itself can be a form of healing.
Working across South and West Auckland, Pirihira has introduced a bilingual prescribing system—sending prescriptions and health instructions to pharmacies entirely in te reo Māori. It’s a simple idea with transformative impact.
“When whānau get that rongoā … and they see it’s in te reo Māori … they think ‘wow, this is amazing’. We love it.
Pirihira’s mahi is deeply connected to her commitment to uplift both reo and hauora Māori. Through her work with Te Hononga in South Auckland and Te Puna Manawa in West Auckland, she serves kura, kōhanga, and whānau directly—bridging health services with culture and community.
Her approach has sparked a movement in local pharmacies, many of which now display her bilingual posters, helping whānau feel recognised and supported in their own language. These small shifts reflect a bigger picture: Māori health led by Māori voices.
Honouring Te Reo in Practice
Pirihira believes that restoring te reo Māori to everyday healthcare settings strengthens trust and belonging. It helps whānau feel seen, heard, and cared for in a way that aligns with their identity and worldview.
She also champions the next generation of Māori nurses to pursue prescribing roles—particularly in regions like the Far North—so that culturally responsive healthcare continues to grow within Māori communities.
“Because who better to become prescribers in the Far North than our Māori nurses?"
Recognition and Impact
Pirihira’s leadership was recently acknowledged through the Te Pātaka Whaioranga (PHARMAC) Tapuhi Kaitiaki Awards, where she was celebrated as one of seven Māori nurses recognised for excellence and innovation in practice.
Her mahi reminds us that language is medicine. Every bilingual prescription sent, every te reo poster displayed, strengthens the connection between healthcare and culture.
At Te Hononga, we are proud to celebrate Māori health professionals like Pirihira Puata—leaders who walk the talk of manaakitanga, wairuatanga, and kotahitanga in everything they do.
He kupu whakamutunga
Pirihira’s story is a reminder that the path toward equitable healthcare begins with listening—to our people, our stories, and our language. By normalising te reo Māori in health, she’s creating spaces of belonging where hauora can truly flourish.
Pirihira Puata
Mana Kidz
Rebecca Flynn-Nalder
Mana Kidz
Mana Kidz
Pirihira Puata and Rebecca Flynn-Nalder lead our Mana Kidz team with a strong focus on School-Based healthcare for tamariki across South Auckland.
They are both Nurse Prescribers who work directly in schools/kura to provide health checks, treatments, and support for Rheumatic Fever prevention. Together, they bring care, experience, and commitment to improving health outcomes for our tamariki and their whānau.