Robina Thomson Cameron was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. She came to New Zealand in 1911 and trained as a nurse at Cook Hospital, Gisborne. Soon after graduating in 1915, Cameron travelled to England and joined Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, working during WWI in Egypt and Palestine. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross for her services.
Returning to New Zealand in late 1919, Robina Cameron began working for the Department of Health as a native-district nurse based in Ōpōtiki. The area she served for 11 years stretched from Waimana to Cape Runaway. In 1931, she became the district nurse based in Rotorua, where she was instrumental in the formation of Te Ropu o te Ora, the Women's Health League. Cameron, fondly known as 'Kamerana’, became president of the League and retained the position throughout her life.
Cameron was made an MBE for her services to Māori in 1938. She retired from a distinguished nursing career in 1949.
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