Child health issues in New Zealand: an overview

International travel can provide the unique opportunity to experience other cultures. For nurses, it can also provide a window through which different health care structures and services can be viewed. Many similarities and differences can be found between the country visited and the United States in terms of health issues, nursing education, roles, and responsibilities. This article explores a number of ways health services are provided to school-age children in New Zealand. Nearly 20% of New Zealand's population are native Maori people. Not only is cultural sensitivity in health service delivery a priority, but the Maori people are guaranteed participation in health care decisions by law. School nurses in the United States can benefit from examining the models of care used by New Zealand nurses for managing the health care needs of school-age children.