One of the New Zealand Health Strategy (2000) objectives was to improve this health outcomes of Māori, resulting in the introduction of changes within the health system to enable Māori to be cared for in a culturally safe and sensitive manner, and ethics in nursing to enable the safe treatment and care of New Zealanders. However, despite the focus on improving care and health outcomes for all New Zealanders, poor health statistics for Maori, both in morbidity and mortality, remain high in comparison to non-Māori. This thesis acknowledges that inequity for Māori exists within the health sector and that,although the New Zealand Health Strategy and other subsequent policies have committed to addressing the situation inequities remain and are being complicated by other circumstances. For instance, one solution to address health inequities has been a call from Māori communities over the past decade to produce services developed 'with, by and for Māori. Central to that strategy is the employment of more Māori into the nursing heath care profession, and the implementation of culturally appropriate practices and decision making driven by Māori. However, a high proposition of Maori nurses are leaving the nursing workforce, further disadvantaging services related to Māori health cars in communities that are already under pressure. Thus, government health policies and strategies have not been able to address issues raised by Māori about Māori health care.