The Wellington Tongan Nurses belonging to the Tongan Nurses of NZ Association recently celebrated 2 years since their Wellington branch was set up.
A small function was held at the James Cook Grand Chancellor hotel to mark this celebration and to honour one of their longest serving members.
Edna ‘Ungatea Tu’itupou-Havea, Chairperson for the Tongan Nurses Association in Wellington says having a Wellington Branch is a great achievement.
“Our Association has the largest numbers in Auckland but there’s quite a few of us in Wellington, so we thought in two years ago, why not start up our own Branch in the Capital and link to our umbrella Association in Auckland.”
“We are fortunate to have the patron of our Tonga Nurses Association Aotearoa, Mrs Violani ‘Ilolahia Wills in Wellington and she has been the backbone of our Branch.”
“Violani has dedicated most of her time to mentoring our nurses and working directly with our Tongan families who have experiencing health problems. She’s passionate about serving our families and making a difference to our peoples’ health. She pulls us together and ensures that work involves helping our families to access healthcare services,” says Mrs Tu’itupou-Havea.
Violani is highly regarded in the Association for her long term service.
“Violani has been our national Tongan Nurses Association Aotearoa patron since 2008 and an active member of NZNO’s Pacific Nursing Section.”
“She is an amazing woman. She always take the lead and the kind of person who will go the extra mile to get things done. She sets a high standard for all our NZ Tongan nurses to follow,” says Eseta Finau, President of the Tonga Nurses Association Aotearoa.
In her 70s, Violani is still going strong, dedicating her spare time to regularly check up on the families they serve.
She has twice made up her mind to retire but more opportunities presented themselves and she couldn’t refuse not taking them up to make a difference to people’s health.
Violani started her nursing training in Tonga and completed it in Tauranga in 1965. She moved to Wellington in 1971 to take up midwifery training at St Helen’s. Since then she has worked at the Wellington Hospital’s neonatal unit, as a practice nurse in Seatoun and taught as a senior lecturer of communication and culture at the Otago Medical School.
Violani was honoured at the celebration for starting up the Wellington Branch and devoting much of her life to a career of improving the health of Tongan families in New Zealand.
“Violani has not only work to serve the Pacific communities in Wellington but also to serve the nursing profession. She devoted most her time to mentor nurses and advising them on the best career pathways. She is my professional mentor in my journey as a PhD student in nursing,” says Mrs Tu’itupou-Havea.
The Wellington Tongan Nurses welcome new members to join their Branch and to be part of the network of about 30 Tongan registered nurses for Wellington.
For more information contact Angie Enoka, Communications Manager on 021 809 137 or angie@pasifikafutures.co.nz
Issued: 26 May 2016