RMIP Series #2: Auckland’s Hāwera Cohort

In this second instalment of our RMIP series, we focus on Auckland’s inaugural fifth-year rural health cohort in Hāwera, Taranaki, where students are discovering the breadth of rural practice and the value of strong community connections.

Students in Hāwera gain hands-on clinical experience alongside rural GPs, hospital generalists, visiting specialists, and community health providers. Living in the town, they learn how healthcare operates in smaller communities and understand the unique challenges these populations face.

Dr Hannah Lawn, Lead Academic Coordinator, knows first-hand the programme’s impact from both mentoring students and having been an RMIP student herself.

“The RMIP stands out from traditional rotations by offering a unique 1-on-1 training experience. Students enjoy direct supervision while learning hands-on skills, which enhances both clinical and communication abilities.”

Living and learning in Hāwera, provides an all-encompassing opportunity to experience rural hospitality, learn how healthcare is delivered in smaller communities and understand the unique challenges these populations face. Along with gaining hands-on clinical experience alongside rural GPs, rural hospital generalists, visiting specialists, and rural community health providers the student’s placement gives them an understanding of rural that cannot be learnt anywhere else.

For Angeline Hii, one of the 2025 Hāwera cohort, both the clinical and personal experiences have been transformative.

“Clinically, the broad scope of rural practice stood out. Working in a small team gave me supervised autonomy and hands-on procedural experience, which will be invaluable as a junior doctor.”

“Personally, I was surprised by how welcoming the community felt. From hospital staff camaraderie to shared dinners and local activities, I quickly felt a sense of belonging.”

The RMIP experience has also influenced Angeline’s thinking about her future career. “It’s shown me how rewarding it is to be a rural generalist, and how tangible the difference can be in underserved areas. The RMIP experience has inspired me to pursue a career that balances clinical excellence with meaningful community engagement, and I’d love to integrate that into my future career.”

Research supports these reflections. Studies consistently show that students who train rurally are significantly more likely to choose rural practice, helping build a workforce pipeline at a time when rural New Zealand faces major GP shortages and looming retirements.

For these Hāwera students, the RMIP year is more than a placement – it’s an immersive journey of learning, mentorship, and community connection, equipping them with the skills and perspective to become Aotearoa New Zealand’s next generation of rural doctors.  Hannah says, “Watching these energetic students grow, overcome challenges, and succeed throughout the year is incredibly rewarding.”

Next in our RMIP series, we’ll explore how local partnerships, including with the South Taranaki District Council, help students settle into Hāwera and connect with the wider community – showing how collaboration between rural health programmes and towns enriches both medical training and community wellbeing.