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HTRHN Board 2024-2026

We are pleased to announce the new Hauora Taiwhenua Board that was voted on during the AGM on the evening of December 4th.  Fiona Bolden was reappointed for a further 2-year term as Chair, which is a testament to the energy Fiona has put into the role to bring Hauora Taiwhenua into existence as a collective and establish the organisation as a key influencer in rural health advocacy. Her commitment to rural communities is unwavering and grounded in her work as a rural GP working most recently on the Coromandel. 

Applications open for HTRHN Rural Health Research Scholarship!

Are you a student in a health discipline? Apply now for the $5,000 Rural Health Research Scholarship to support a 12-week elective or research placement in a rural community of your choice. Open to any health discipline student Scholarship covers living expenses and provides spending money Supervised research by your tertiary institution Present your findings to Hauora Taiwhenua or at a rural health conference Take the opportunity to contribute to rural health while advancing your studies!

Webinar: A Socially Accountable Rural Medical Program – the Waikato Graduate Entry Medical School

Dr Ross Lawrenson, Director of Medicine and Professor in Population Health at the University of Waikato, presented on the development of the third Waikato Medical School, offering insights into its planning, goals, and expected impact on healthcare in the region.

Rural Health Careers Programme – Hawkes Bay Rural School Visit Report

It is my pleasure to present what this group did on the Hawkes Bay region trip, visiting six schools over three days – Te Aute College, Havelock North High School, Central Hawkes Bay College, Napier Boys and Napier Girls High School and Iona and Woodford. A presentation was given to each school in the beginning followed by an interactive session for the remainder of the visit. How we split up the groups of tauira depended on the number of students.

Hauora Taiwhenua Applauds Coalition Government’s Progress in Developing a Third New Zealand Medical School Focussing on Producing Rural Doctors

Hauora Taiwhenua expresses its support for the Government’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Waikato to establish a third medical school focussing on developing rural doctors.

Raglan Noho Marae Visit Inspiring Health Students: A Cultural Immersion Experience

Earlier in November, the Raglan community and Poihākena Marae welcomed fifteen tertiary health students from around Aotearoa New Zealand, for a Noho Marae as part of Hauora Taiwhenua’s Rural Health Careers Programme. Noho Marae are a significant aspect of the programme, as a unique opportunity that bridges the gap between tertiary students aspiring for rural health careers and the kaupapa of Māori health.

 

Earlier in November, the Raglan community and Poihākena Marae welcomed fifteen tertiary health students from around Aotearoa New Zealand, for a Noho Marae as part of Hauora Taiwhenua’s Rural Health Careers Programme.

Noho Marae are a significant aspect of the programme, as a unique opportunity that bridges the gap between tertiary students aspiring for rural health careers and the kaupapa of Māori health.

Through workshops, cultural interactions, and visits to local practices, students are immersed in the rich tapestry of traditional Māori health, gaining insights beyond the textbooks.

Bianca Bisogno, a Social Work student who attended the wānanga, shared her experience in Whaingaroa and her keenness to apply.

Her motivation stemmed from a desire to bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility, particularly for Māori communities. She was recently offered a job where she would be working specifically with Māori, aligning with her commitment to understanding the challenges they face in accessing medical care.

Yet this experience brought much more than this, not only fostering her understanding of Māori healthcare but also providing an opportunity to connect with her taha Māori.

After reflecting on having lost some of her connection to Māori due to the stigmatisation faced by her grandmother, Kaumatua Russell Riki gave Bianca the opportunity to perform a Karanga at Taupiri Maunga.

“For me, it was a very deeply spiritual experience. My partner and my daughter whakapapa to Taupiri so it was very humbling. It was a little bit of that reclamation, and I am very grateful for it because if I had not come here then I would not have had this experience.”

Bianca praised Kaumātua Russell Riki and the mana whenua for making all students feel welcome, regardless of their backgrounds.

“Te Ao Māori is a space where a lot of people can come and bring their own beliefs in and connect them to things that exist in this space. I think the way that the mana whenua invited us to engage in Te Ao Māori by bringing ourselves, what we carry and what is important to us is a really beautiful thing because it’s so inclusive.”

“A lot of our group here aren’t Māori, but at the same time a lot of us will work with Māori people in the health sector. With the way mana whenua brought everyone in makes people feel comfortable and my hope is that we all would feel that comfort and be able to take that with us from this experience.”

As Bianca continues her social work career, and as do those from the range of disciplines that too were welcomed on Poihākena Marae, their commitment to understanding the unique challenges Māori face displays the potential for positive change in the healthcare sector.

Upon reflection, Bianca notes how these experiences will only help build the next generation’s prioritisation of both professional competence and the cultural nuances that are interwoven within.

“It’s not just about knowing your job, the important lessons from this trip go beyond just health stuff. That’s what will have a lasting impact on shaping Aotearoa’s health landscape for the better.”