And that’s just one reason, the nurse practitioner has been named this year’s recipient of Te Akenehi Hei Memorial Award, which is the most prestigious award from Te Rūnanga o Aotearoa, NZNO.
The Ngāti Raukawa ki Wharepuhunga descendant received the award at the recent Indigenous Nurses Conference held in Tāmaki Makaurau, opening her speech with a mihi to the previous recipient Rhoena Davis who had died just a day earlier.
“Rhoena was my tuakana. I had only been a nurse for two years when I met her, making a beeline for her at an event among many people.
“She told me the scope of a nurse practitioner was a heavy burden. Now I know what she meant.”
Hohepa also spoke about her mother who attended the award ceremony with many other whānau members.
“I didn’t realise until I started training, that my mum wanted to be a nurse too.
“Now I understand why she was so supportive of her kids becoming nurses,” said Hohepa who has two sisters who are nurses too.”
NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said Hohepa had made history in the award nomination process.
“We received five nominations for her, all of them from different people and all of them with different and amazing things to say about Hohepa.
“Dhyanne is the pou for so many Māori nurses in Tāmaki Makaurau and throughout the country.”
To find out more about the four kaupapa nominees are judged on, click here