Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Getting more Maori midwives is seen as a priority for a new push to encourage Maori into health careers.

Taima Campbell, a director of the national Maori nursing and midwifery workforce development programme, says the planned "Kia ora Hauora" campaign will show students and second-chance learners there's more to medicine than being a doctor.

She told Waatea News the shortage of Maori midwives is especially critical, but many young women don't understand what midwives do and what the opportunities are.

She also said training institutions need to be more flexible in accepting students who can only study part-time, or taking students straight out of high school.