He maimai aroha Dr Hōhepa Mason

Our shared obligations to care for one another, with particular emphasis on caring for our youth and our elders.

In 2020, during a time of great change and uncertainty in the world I made the decision to leave the airline industry and pursue a career in nursing. The health sector has always appealed to me as I see the role of a nurse being people centred and highly impactful on individuals and their whānau.

As I approach my final semester in the Bachelor of Nursing degree, my key aims are to be able to help address the inequities Māori face in the health sector and armed with my experience in team management, I hope to work towards a clinical leadership role where I may be able take a more policy-focussed approach in addressing those inequities. Ngā mihi nui, Pia Veitch

Tēnā koutou, my name is Bella Rewiri-Wharerau, and I am a proud descendant of Ngāti Awa. I whakapapa to Ngāti Awa through my mother’s lineage, through my great grandfather Wiremu Tiaki Rewiri. Despite not being entirely familiar with my heritage to Ngāti Awa, I am on a journey of learning and restoring the knowledge of my family ties to Whakatāne and my iwi of Ngāti Awa. I was never raised in Whakatāne, nor in any place I truly whakapapa back to. However, I was always fortunate enough to often return to Whakatāne and Poroporo to sustain a connection to Ngāti Awa.

I am currently in my third year at the University of Otago, studying towards a double degree in a Bachelor of Health Sciences majoring in Māori Health and a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance. I decided to major in Māori health as it is evident Māori are not receiving adequate health care due to many barriers and issues within our health care system. I intend to pursue a career within the Māori health workforce. Where I am able to advocate for Māori and promote Māori health. To essentially eliminate the barriers Māori are challenged with, enable our people to be more receptive to the health care system and improve the quality of life for all Māori.

So far through the course of my studies, I have gained an extent of knowledge and opportunities which has subsequently strengthened the ambition I hold, which is to better the health of Māori. I believe my studies will allow me to give back to my people, by representing my iwi and whānau within a critical role to our society and having the ability to offer my expertise to uplift the health and wellbeing of our people both mentally and physically. As I endeavor a career within the health sector, I hope to convey te reo me ōna tikanga within my role and uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi by addressing the barriers and challenges Māori are faced with. To fundamentally achieve equity in health for Māori. I am also very excited to see what the future holds for our people as the new health reforms come into play and hope to eventually be part of that positive change when I enter the health workforce.

Nō reira, nei rā te mihi, nei rā te mihi.

Tertiary Scholarships and Education Grants open February of each year. Check you are registered with us and your postal and email addresses are correct.