Wainivetau was born and raised in the island of Fiji; she is the first Fiji trained Nurse Practitioner in New Zealand, the first Paediatric Pacific Nurse Practitioner in New Zealand and was the recipient of the Outstanding Nursing Award in the Pacific Category ADHB 2018.

“At the PMA Conference I presented on my story and journey as a Fiji-trained nurse becoming a Nurse Practitioner in New Zealand. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to share my story and hope that I’ve inspired or encouraged someone, that no matter the challenges of life and humble beginnings, one can write their own story and change the narrative if they work hard and believe in themselves.”

Throughout her career, Wainivetau has ensured that she utilises her values as a Fijian to improvethe experience of her patients.

“Being aware of my own culture helps me to respect and value the culture of others. As a nurse practitioner in the community, acknowledging the different cultures and learning to use other  people’s languages helps me build great relationships with my patients, which improves their engagement and encourages them to access healthcare.”

She is proud of her heritage and is thankful for the gift of language and culture.

“My language and culture as a Fijian is very important to me. Its richness and uniqueness liesdeeply in the roots of where my ancestors come from. It underpins and identifies who I am and my family ties. Its values and teachings make me who I am today. I believe it is a wonderful gift from God.”

In the spirit of Fiji Language Week, Wainivetau shares one of her favourite Fijian proverbs as a message of encouragement.

“My favourite Fijian proverb is Dui seva ga na bua ko a tea which means you can only harvest what you planted. I love this proverb because it was taught to me by my late grandmother who encouraged me to work hard in order to become successful in life.”

Date: Friday 7 October 2022

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