Hello, I was born in Gisborne, New Zealand and I have been living in Auckland for the past 35 years. I am married with five children and four grandchildren.

​

I became a nurse in 2014 after graduating from Unitec with a Bachelor of Nursing in 2014. As a Clinical Nurse Specialist, I have completed my Master of Nursing in 2023. I have been a Clinical Nurse Specialist since April 2022, initially specialising in Older Adult Mental Health, I then transitioned to my role as Forensic Liaison Service (FLS) Clinical Nurse Specialist for Waitemata in October 2023.

My role is to provide consultancy to both regional Forensic Psychiatry Services (RFPS) and District Mental Health Services (DMHS). My goal is to strengthen and maintain links and communication pathways between regional forensic psychiatry services and district mental health services. I achieve this by facilitating and supporting efficient and appropriate transfer of care of tangata whai i te ora (involving whanau)  between regional forensic psychiatry services and DMHSs. I aim to ensure effective clinical consultation and liaison over the care of tangata whaiora with mental health issues that present as a significant risk to others and/or have a history of offending.

​

Studies indicate that people with a mental illness are overrepresented throughout the criminal justice system and the primary goal for the FLS is to promote effective and culturally safe engagement for tangata whaiora with mental health services which studies indicate is effective in reducing recidivism and IPU admissions.

Hi I am Lucy Keedle

I was born and grew up in England but moved around in my younger years with my family as my father was in the Navy. I trained as an RN in Oxford and working in various roles the last one in England ss a UroGynaecology and Women’s Health CNS till 2005.

​

I married and had three children then moved with my family to New Zealand in 2005 and started a job with District Nursing in MidCentral.

​

 In 2009 I became a Urology CNS till 2013 then moved to become a CNS in Women’s Health.

​

I decided to take a break from the CNS world and expand my general knowledge and skills, by working as a Long-term conditions nurse and Cancer co-ordinator for the Central PHO, this was such an awesome experience and I certainly learnt new skills which have helped me to grow my assessment skills.

I was drawn back into Women’s Health as a CNS, and have continued to be there to the present time.

​

I completed my Masters in Nursing in 2013 and have continued over the years to advance my knowledge and skills, I was part of setting up an out patients hysteroscopy service and have gone on the complete my nurse hysteroscopist training to enable me to perform independent clinics.

​

I joined the CNSSNZ committee two years ago and I am very excited to play my part in driving the advancement of the CNS presence in New Zealand.

Hello, I am originally from South Africa and have been proud to call Aotearoa New Zealand home for over 20 years, becoming a New Zealand citizen during that time. I am married and a proud mother and grandmother.

​

As a Clinical Nurse Specialist, I have completed post‑graduate qualifications and worked across several areas of specialist palliative care. My nursing journey in New Zealand began in Aged Residential Care, which laid the foundation for my ongoing commitment to quality end‑of‑life care.

​

I have collaborated with Jo and the Ministry of Health on several key initiatives, including the Last Days of Life Project and Te Ara Whakapiri, ensuring the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi are embedded throughout. This work has reinforced the importance of incorporating Tikanga, Māori values, and beliefs into care delivery, as well as supporting the meaningful inclusion of whānau in discussions and decision‑making.

​

I previously contributed to the National Last Days of Life Care – Te Ara Whakapiri programme and served as Chair of the Auckland Palliative Care Network Group.

​

Currently, I am part of the team reviewing and refining Health Pathways with a palliative care focus. In my current role with the Mercy Hospice Poi Team, I provide support, education, and mentoring to primary care providers, including GPs and residential care facilities (www.poiauckland.co.nz).

I am deeply passionate about palliative care and strongly advocate for enabling individuals and their whānau to make informed choices that support quality of life throughout the final stages of life.

Hello, I was born in Zimbabwe and have lived there, South Africa and the UK and am now a proud NZ citizen having lived her for over 21yrs. I am married and have a 16yr old son.

​

I am a palliative care clinical nurse specialist with over 25yrs years’ experience and have worked in most areas of specialist palliative care (PC) including in-patient units, community-based PC and hospital PC in the UK and NZ.

 My current role is with the Mercy Hospice Poi Team which provides support to primary providers (GPs and residential care facilities) building capability and capacity around palliative care. This involves formal and informal teaching and mentoring of healthcare professionals, including clinical assessment and communication skills.  

​

I am a proud RN and have a post graduate diploma in nursing (palliative care). I am passionate about palliative care and love every aspect of working with patients, families and staff. I aim for clinical excellence alongside the building of a therapeutic and trusting relationship. I believe that it is a privilege to walk alongside people and their whanau who are facing end of life.  Nurses play a pivotal role in advocating for patient’s choice and wishes at every step of their journey. Death is a part of life and having conversations early in the disease trajectory is helpful for most involved. I believe that death and dying is a spiritual and sacred journey and try to reframe/reduce the medicalization aspect.

 

I strive to continue learning and to role model excellent nursing care.  

I am a member of the PCNNZ (Palliative care nurses New Zealand) association and NZNO. I was the recipient of the Chief nursing Officer award at ADHB in 2018.

Originally from Scotland, Monica Barnes is a Clinical Nurse Specialist and founder of Menopause and Wellness, which is a nationwide specialist menopause service. Since qualifying as a nurse in 1996 she has worked extensively within senior nursing leadership positions including various charge nurse, senior charge nurse, head nurse and professional lead positions within the UK, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand.

 

As a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Monica is educated to master’s level, is a qualified Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) therapist and is an accredited Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP) having gained a specialist qualification in behaviour change and lifestyle treatment.

Monica has also undertaken specialist menopause training with both the UK Newson Health Menopause Society and British Menopause Society. She is a member of the British Menopause Society, The Newson Health Menopause Society, The North American Menopause Society and has recently been appointed as Chairperson of the Clinical Nurse Specialist Society New Zealand.

Born in Samoa, Millie Tapusoa has ancestral ties to the villages of Faaala, Palauli and Poutasi, Falealili. Within Menopause and Wellness, she is a Clinical Nurse Specialist and a Pacific Cultural Lead. Since qualifying in 1990 she has held various leadership positions across various Primary Health Care Organisations, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Kaupapa Māori Services and Pacific Community Providers.

​

As a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Millie has post-graduate qualifications in both Pacific Health and Nurse Education speciality areas and is an accredited Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP) having gained a specialist qualification in behaviour change and lifestyle treatment.

​

Millie has undertaken specialist menopause training with UK Newson Health Menopause Society. She is a member of the British Menopause Society, The Newson Health Menopause Society and the Clinical Nurse Specialist Society New Zealand.

Kelly was born in Whangarei, where she trained as a Comprehensive Nurse, graduating in 1997.  This was the last year nurses graduated with a Diploma of Comprehensive Nursing, completing the bridging course in 1998 to gain the Degree of Nursing, when she followed school friends to Hamilton. 

Paediatric Nursing has always been a passion, working in the medical ward at Waikato Hospital for years, then moving into the community in various roles.  As a 4-year-old in hospital, Kelly informed her father that she would become a nurse and look after children!

​

A side passion saw Kelly at Bible College of NZ, earning a PGDip in Theology and working in maximum security prisons in Mongolia! (Yes, very random!)

Kelly has worked in Public Health for years, initially as Public Health Nurse, and then moving across into the CNS Communicable Diseases position in the Public Health Unit in Waikato, where she was in the senior leadership team, leading through COVID and other local emergencies.   In 2025 Kelly moved to join the South Canterbury Public Health team, in a new CNS Communicable Diseases position in Timaru.