April 2009
Newsletter
20 April 2009
I hope that those of you who did not work over the Easter break had a restful and happy time. Thanks to those staff who worked and I hope that a few hot cross buns and Easter eggs came your way.
March saw the official move of Ruamoko to their new premises. The Hiki Tapu ceremony was held on 19th March 2009. Kaumatua Kuni Shepherd and Rev Nove Vailaau led the Hiki Tapu on the move day. Rev Vailaau is the Minister of a large Pacific Island congregation who has been involved in the initial stages of the move. This ceremony moved the Taonga from the old building to the new one. The Taonga and artefacts were delivered to the new facility where further karakia were performed and the waharoa were unveiled. Work is now being started on transforming the vacated building into Vaka Pasifika. The official opening of all 4 buildings, including Ruamoko, is due early in May 2009.
The New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses conference was a great success. A report from Anna Kempthorne is attached. Te Korowai WhÄriki was pleased to sponsor this forum and staff were present to promote the service as a great place to work.
The Michael Campbell Foundation has made a generous donation to the Chapel on Ratonga Rua Campus. The Chapel is an important focus for the service, especially the inpatient units. Staff often comment on how the building has quickly become part of the new campus and that it looks like it has always been at its present location. It will be great to have extra money to make the environment even better. - Nigel Fairley, Operations Director
The 2nd International Conference of Te Ao Maramatanga,
New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses
MIND THE FUTURE
The 2nd International Conference of Te Ao Maramatanga, New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses Inc. (NZCMHN) was held at the Wellington Convention Centre in Wellington, last week on 1-3 April, 2009. The Associate Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr Jonathon Coleman opened the conference and we were pleased to know that this was his first official engagement especially since the official announcement that he has taken on the mental health part of the portfolio and he has stated that he has an open door and invited us, as the College, to meet with him surrounding any issues.
The keynote speakers and presenters were of a high standard with diverse interests and included our very own Dr Jackie Short who received high praise for her presentation with plenty of interest during the lunch break following her presentation. Other speakers were Brenda Happell from Queensland, the editor of The International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, Rev Je Kan, a Buddhist monk with a PhD from Japan, and Sarah Gordon spoke of the Consumer Outcome measure that she has developed over the past 3 years. We were entertained throughout the conference with local groups including a Baby KapaHaka group from a local Te Kohanga Reo, the ages of the children looked between 2 and 5 years(very cute). Strike Four a girls barbershop quartet from Aotea College, really awesome, Sendam Orchestra from Newtown Union Health - a unique sound, Silverline, were the band at the dinner on Thursday night and this included two mental health nurses, James Shanks and Sean Dolan - those guys were fantastic.
The conference has had excellent feedback. There were plenty of opportunities to connect with other mental health nurses and promote our profession. Te Korowai Whariki was a Gold sponsor and the organising committee thanks Nigel Fairley for supporting mental health nurses for this important conference. Anna Kempthorne
Website Feedback - thanks Adam
Hi ! What a great site! Visually attractive & rich in content. I discovered it after visiting the careers fair at the new Regional Wellington Hospital open day on Sunday, en-route to the Newtown Fair.
There is, however, what appears to be a typo at namely .."What's in a word?
Many times we have been asked just what should people who have experienced mental health, in the past or currently, be called. What is the politically correct title for us', aside from our usual Christian names that is."
It appears to me that "mental health" should logically be "mentally unwell", or something like that.
Kia Kaha!
Adam Bogacki
PS I enjoyed meeting your mental health staff.
Staff News
Farewell to two Clinical Nurse Specialists. Ngaire Cook is retiring and Ruth Joines is moving to the Kapiti team. Thanks for all your commitment and hard work leading nursing in your areas. You will be missed.
Well done to Evangeline Daniella from our Hawke's Bay team who got married recently.
Guy and Robert in Gisborne have moved into their new premises and have sent out contact details.