The realities of culturally safe care were explored in a qualitative narrative inquiry involving interviews with 12 Māori registered nurses and nurse practitioners providing direct care in either primary or secondary health services. The analysis highlighted that clinical care was too easily prioritised over cultural needs and demonstrated that nurses need to consider the broader equity issues that impact Māori disengagement from healthcare in order to deliver culturally safe care. The retention of Indigenous nurses was considered essential for advocating culturally safe care and contributed to positive healthcare outcomes for Māori. Support from leadership was also found to be important to ensure workplace efficiencies did not override culturally safe care.
