Ka Muri, Ka Mua Indigenous Nursing: How the Past Can Inform Moving Into the Future

This reflection examines the past 50 years of Indigenous nursing, highlighting both progress and persistent inequities. Fifty years ago, Indigenous nurses were largely invisible within the profession, their voices marginalised and their cultural backgrounds undervalued. Although numbers have grown, Indigenous nurses, particularly Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand, remain significantly underrepresented in the workforce relative to population need. Enduring structural and systemic barriers continue to impede recruitment, retention and the integration of Indigenous worldviews into nursing curricula and practice. This commentary refers to historical and contemporary contexts that shaped this landscape, including colonisation, racism and the suppression of Indigenous knowledge. It acknowledges significant milestones such as Dr. Irihapeti Ramsden's leadership in establishing Kawa Whakaruruhau and Cultural Safety, while also noting the political backlash that diluted its original focus on Māori health inequities. Indigenous nurses, past and present, bring culturally grounded, relational and holistic approaches to care, bridging the clinical and cultural worlds and building trust with Indigenous communities. Their growing scholarly contributions and international collaborations-such as the Indigenous Global Research Alliance in Nursing-are advancing Indigenous methodologies and evidence. While gains have been made, the future requires culturally responsive pipelines and collective commitment to addressing inequity, racism and structural injustice in nursing.