Scholarships respond to need for more Māori in health careers

Ten Wintec students have received Dame Te Ātairangikaahu nursing scholarships from Wintec and the Māori King’s Office to encourage more Waikato-Tainui people into health careers.

The scholarships mark the tenth year of Wintec’s Dame Te Ātairangikaahu Nursing Scholarship, set up in recognition of Te Arikinui Dame Te Ātairangikaahu’s leadership and care for the welfare of her people. Since 2009, 14 nursing and midwifery students have received the scholarship to further their study.

King Tūheitia is committed to the scholarship and has actively encouraged support to fund more opportunities this year to ensure more Māori can pursue health careers.

Wintec Director, Māori, Hera White says the scholarships enable Waikato-Tainui people considering a career in health.

“There was no shortage of qualified applicants this year and the selection panel were very pleased with the calibre of the students, and their motivation to succeed in the health field.”

The following Waikato-Tainui students have been selected to recieve a Dame Te Ātairangikaahu Nursing Scholarship:

• Dayna Samuel, Bachelor of Nursing, (Tihei Mauri Ora), Ngāti Hauā, Ngati te Ora, Raungaiti.
• Hollie Scott, Bachelor of Nursing, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngati Mahuta, Purekireki Marae.
• Airini Te Hei Tawhiri Eilleen Thompson, Bachelor of Nursing, Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Kahungunu Ki Heretaunga. 
• Kerry Joy Watene, Bachelor of Nursing, Tainui, Ngāti Māhanga Te Papaorotu Marae.
• Renee Leanne Renata Smith, Bachelor of Nursing, Tainui, Ngāti Whawhakia,Te Kauri Marae.
• Stony Tamati James Tata, Bachelor of Nursing, Waikato te iwi, Ngāti Naho te hapu, Horahora te Marae.
• Te Waimaarino Winikerei Patena, Bachelor of Nursing, Ngāti Hauā, Te Rangitaupi, Te Iti o Hauā.
• Zaradene McGregor, Bachelor of Nursing, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Apakura, Kahotea.
• Vair Joanne Ngatoro-Jackson, Bachelor of Midwifery, Tainui, Ngāti Mahuta, Te Tokanui a noho.
• Joanne Ngararoopu Mark, Diploma of Enrolled Nursing, Waikato te Iwi, Mahanga Hourua te hapu, Te Papa o Rotu te Marae.

Each scholarship supports one student per year to receive a maximum of $6,000 towards the cost of tuition for a period of up to three years (a total of approx. $18,000 per scholarship). 

“We are very grateful to the Māori King’s Office who have  been critical in gaining the extra funding support for these scholarships which respond to the need for more Māori working in the health sector,” says Ms White.

Funders of the scholarship include King Tūheitia, the Office of the Kīngitanga, Tūrangawaewae Marae, Staples Rodway Chartered Accountants, Mr Peter Rogers, Te Arataura (Waikato-Tainui Tribal Executive), Ngāti Hauā and Wintec.

Meanwhile, two Wintec staff members were awarded the Dr Hare Puke Māori Leadership Scholarship. In honour of Kaumātua Dr Hare Puke, the scholarship was created to enable Wintec’s Māori staff to gain leadership skills. Joint recipients for 2017 are Marrin Haggie from the Centre for Sport Science and Human Performance, and Jamie Lambert from the Māori Achievement team.

The scholarships were presented at Wintec’s Te Kōpu Mānia marae on Thursday 11 May, 2017.

To find out more about scholarship opportunities at Wintec, visit wintec.ac.nz/scholarships.