The Emergence of Te Hihimā: A Bicultural Philospohical Framework for Nursing Education in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

The crafting of Te Hihimā (woven flax cloak) o Te Tohu Paetahi Tapuhi (Bachelor of Nursing) at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology was developed from the connectivity of the collaborative learning relationships and experiences that student nurses encounter during their educational journey. The weaving of a student’s individual Hihimā is a metaphorical representation of the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes, and protection as the student-nurse weaver integrates theory with practice, and fuses the art and science implicit within the nursing profession. The concept of Te Hihimā emerged during the journey to develop a bicultural Bachelor of Nursing curriculum within a mainstream educational institution in the Waiariki rohe, Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Tohu Paetahi Tapuhi was accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) for teaching delivery commencing in 2015. This article will deliberate the development of the philosophy, and analyse the weaving analogy, in the development of nursing graduates who carry the professionally protective mantle of Te Hihimā to sustain them during the journey into professional practice, and beyond.