Maureen Shirley Morris is a New Zealand nurse, and is a Fellow of the College of Nurses Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2024 Morris was appointed a Member of the

New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for th ...

for services to nursing.

Career

Morris began working as a nurse in 1966, and worked at Whangārei and Auckland hospitals. She specialised in oncology nursing, and from 2002 until 2007 she was the charge nurse manager at the oncology ward in

Auckland City Hospital Auckland City Hospital is a public hospital located in Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest hospital in New Zealand,Largest hospital in New Zealand...' - News-Medical.Net, Tuesday 29 June 2004 as well as one of the oldest medical fa ...

. During her tenure, the entire ward had to be moved to another hospital. Morris was the

colorectal cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the Colon (anatomy), colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include Lower gastrointestinal ...

nurse specialist for Northland. In 2014 Morris became a founding member of the Jim Carney Cancer Treatment Centre in Whangārei, which enabled local treatment so cancer patients could avoid travel to Auckland. Morris helped to create the Cancer Nurses Section of the

New Zealand Nurses Organisation The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa is New Zealand's largest trade union and professional organisation that represents the nursing profession, midwives, hauora and caregivers. It is one of the old ...

, and to establish the Cancer Nurses Knowledge and Skills Framework. Morris has held voluntary roles in a number of organisations, including Northland Hospice Society, the Breast Cancer Support Service, the National Association for Loss and Grief, and Blind Low Vision New Zealand, and as Chair of the Child Cancer Foundation. Morris retired in June 2023, although due to staff shortages she continued working until the end of the year.

Honours and awards

In 2013 Morris was awarded the Cancer Nursing Innovation and Excellence Award by the

. She was elected a Fellow of the New Zealand College of Nurses Aotearoa. In the

2024 King's Birthday Honours The 2024 King's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 15 Commonwealth realms of King Charles III to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as part o ...

Morris was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to nursing.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Maureen Living people New Zealand nurses People from Whangārei Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit Year of birth missing (living people)