December 09, 2020
Queen’s scholarships boost Maori health workforce
Waikato Institute of Technology intends to increase the number of scholarships it has for Māori entering the health workforce.
Last week it awarded Dame Te Atairangikaahu Scholarships to Jahna Tangiora, Taylar Tuhakaraina and Hina Pokaia.
The scholarship in the name of the late Māori queen was created to help Māori in the Waikato-Tainui region study midwifery and nursing.
Wintec's executive director Māori, Hera White, says there will be seven scholarships on offer in 2021 across all its health programmes, paying up to $50,000 a year.
"Waikato and everywhere else are concerned about increasing our health workforce. There is such a shortage in the DHB and out in the community as well," she says.
Dr Hare Puke Scholarships for teaching staff went to Tania Oxenham, who will use it to develop an online skills course to help Māori and Pasifika learners prepare for tertiary study, and to Priscilla Davis-Ngatai, who is working on establishing a student-focused Māori leadership programme at Wintec.
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