St George’s honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi
June 13, 2025
Erin Bensley (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa) has always been drawn to roles that combine clinical care with systems thinking. She began her nursing career in the neurosurgery and neurology ward at Christchurch Public Hospital while completing postgraduate studies in neurosciences. Her growing interest in data and information management led her to study Nursing and Health Leadership and Management, eventually stepping into her current role as Clinical Informatics Manager at St George’s Hospital.
Five years ago, Erin began learning te reo Māori through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. What started as a personal journey has since evolved significantly. In 2023, she completed a Level 5 diploma in Māori Language and today she supports St George’s, helping to embed te reo and tikanga Māori into everyday practice.
Erin leads Te Rōpū Arotahi Hauora Māori, the hospital’s Māori Health Focus Group, working closely with colleagues and Kaumātua Kathy Simmons to develop resources for staff and patients. “I’m definitely not an expert,” she says, “but it’s been a privilege to work with St George’s to understand what it means to build an organisational culture in partnership with Māori. We all know there’s a disparity in health outcomes for Māori, and this work is part of creating a more inclusive, equitable service for everyone.”
Over the past year, this kaupapa has continued to grow. St George’s has partnered with Riki Consultancy to provide additional support and deliver cultural education sessions for staff, some of which have taken place at Ngā Hau e Whā marae. Key dates such as Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and Matariki are now woven into the hospital’s cultural calendar, supported by initiatives that encourage participation and shared learning.
This year’s Matariki celebration, running from 29 June to 6 July, will be another opportunity to reflect, come together over kai and celebrate the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand.
St George’s continues to invest in creating spaces where people can learn, connect and lead. Erin’s journey shows how personal growth, supported by a strong organisational culture, can create meaningful change for patients, staff and the wider community.
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St George’s Cancer Care Centre in Christchurch is now equipped with cutting-edge radiation therapy technology, thanks to a generous donation from the Hugo Charitable Trust which has purchased a Surface Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT) system.
Under St George’s Sustainability Policy, the hospital has made a commitment to reduce its CO2 emissions by 30% within six years under a new decarbonisation project.
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Those seeking cancer treatment through St George’s Cancer Care Centre, based in Christchurch, will now have access to a radiation oncologist in Dunedin and a medical oncologist in Queenstown.