A young Pasifika male nurse has been recognised as New Zealand’s Young Nurse of the year.
Daniel Mataafa, who is of Samoan descent, is a Regional Pacific Nurse Case Manager based at Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital and said he was “surprised and honoured” to be this year’s recipient.
The 29-year-old was recognised by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation for providing “outstanding, holistic care and going above and beyond for staff and patients – particularly using Te Tiriti principles.”
Chosen from 20 nominations, he said he felt “truly honoured”.
Daniel said, growing up in a Pacific home where caring for family is everything, meant nursing was a second nature to him.
He has also been acknowledged for breaking stigma around being a Samoan male nurse.
“You don’t normally associate a PI male with nursing. People think gay men only do nursing but I have learned to push through this. Take it as a motivation,” Daniel said.
He hoped this award would further contribute to his efforts to inspire young people – tagata talavou, to join him.
“If you are a young Pasifika male and you think nursing is the career for you then pursue it with everything you’ve got.”
