Talofa lava! My name is Josephine Ainuu, and I’m from the beautiful island of Samoa. I moved to New Zealand in 2022 to pursue my studies and am a Manaaki Scholarship recipient. I’m a fourth-year Pharmacy student at the University of Otago.

I’ll be your General Co-Chair for 2026, and I can’t wait to work with everyone and make this year an amazing one!

Fun fact: even though I’m from Samoa, raw seafood is not my vibe, and yes, we are drug dealers… just with a license 💊😎

Quote I live by: “No use stressing about it… might as well enjoy it. YOLO!”

Kia ora, ko Jesse tōku ingoa, he uri tēnei nō Ngāpuhi. I am honoured to serve as Māori Co-Chair for Te Whare Taumata o Ngā Tauira Taiwhenua o Aotearoa for 2026. Born and raised in the Karetu Valley, the Bay of Islands is my home in every sense of the word.

After high school, I began my career as a community pharmacy technician, working across the mid-north for over five years. I later completed a Certificate in Health Sciences in 2022 at the University of Auckland – Waipapa Taumata Rau, where I am currently studying towards a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB). My long-term goal is to return home to Te Tai Tokerau to practise as a doctor and give back to the communities that have shaped me.

In pursuing this goal, I recognise that we as tauira do not need to wait to have an impact. I am committed to championing equity for Māori and rural New Zealanders now through various roles across the University of Auckland, Te Whatu Ora, and PHARMAC. Through this mahi, I aim to empower whānau and help ensure that no matter where we live across the motu, our communities can thrive.

Taking on the mantle as Māori Co-Chair feels like a natural extension of this kaupapa. I hope to further these goals by advocating for and connecting ngā tauira as the future of rural health in Aotearoa.

I am in my 5th and final year of a Bachelor of Optometry at the University of Auckland. I have been part of Hauora Taiwhnua’s mission since 2023, from participation on many Rural School Visits across the country, to being the North Island RSV rep in 2025, and much more. I have a particular interest in rural health and for my honours project in 2024, I researched the intentions of allied health students to pursue rural practice in Australia and New Zealand.

I am very grateful to have been elected as a general co-chair of the SoRHA executive committee and look forward to collaborating with the SoRHA team to promote rural health to students across New Zealand!

Kia ora,

My name is Ameline Makin, I am a fourth-year medical student studying at the University of Auckland. I’ve spent most of my life in the beautiful Kaipara before moving to Auckland for university in 2023. This year I am based in Rotorua and am looking forward to enjoying a whole year out of the city.

Outside of my studies, I am a keen tramper (My favourite tramp has to be the Northwest Circuit on Rakiura/Stewart Island), mountain biker (I am looking forward to getting back into this being placed right across from the Redwoods!), and musician.

This year I am fortunate enough to be a part of SoRHA as your secretary! Growing up as part of a rural community I have witnessed the barriers not only to access healthcare, but also how university can feel like an unobtainable and scary step. With this in mind, I feel genuinely privileged to serve on an exec that is working to shift this mindset, ensuring our rangitahi feel supported

“Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora a mua”

I am honoured to be the Hauora Māori Representative for 2026. Raised rurally and grounded in my Māori, Samoan, and Pākehā whakapapa, I bring a strong appreciation for community, connection, and collective wellbeing. As I enter the final year of my occupational therapy degree, I am passionate about bringing together current and future members of the workforce, strengthening collaboration, and advocating for culturally responsive practice that supports hauora for all.

Kia ora koutou!

My name is Rosie and I am currently a 4th Year medical student on placement in Waikato. I grew up in Timaru, South Canterbury, but have been up studying in Auckland for the last few years. I’m passionate about rural communities and being a part of developing a workforce that serves our people well. I’ve been involved with Auckland uni’s rural health club Grassroots, alongside participating in rural school visits and getting involved with some rural education research.

I’m super excited to be the North Island Rural School Visits rep for 2026 and look forward to making sure all our volunteers are well prepared and have an awesome time sharing their passions with students across the motu.

I’m Oli a final year medical student at Otago university. I’m privileged to be back on the board of SoRHA and looking forward to making a difference. I’m passionate about promoting health and reducing inequities in our vulnerable populations. Having completed the Rural Medical Immersion Programme last year on the West Coast I see a huge value in the mahi of rural health. And I think a career in health is a great prospect for our rangatahi and would encourage everyone to go for it.

Kia ora, I’m a fourth-year medical student at the University of Auckland. I was born and raised in Beijing, the capital of China, and moved to New Zealand in 2018, first settling in Hamilton before beginning university in Auckland in 2023.

In 2025, I took part in a rural school trip organised by Students of Rural Health Aotearoa (SoRHA). During this experience, I had the opportunity to speak with rural teachers and students and learn about their day-to-day lives and challenges. Hearing their stories and seeing rural communities firsthand sparked a strong interest in rural and regional health and the unique role these communities play in Aotearoa.

I’m excited to help connect students with opportunities across the North Island and to support those who are interested in making a meaningful impact beyond major cities. I look forward to serving as your North Island Outreach Representative in 2026.

Kia Ora, I am a fourth-year medical student at the University of Otago, Christchurch campus, and a medic with the NZ Army Reserves (Southern Health Support Squadron, SHSS). In 2025 I was President of the Matagouri Rural Health Club, a participant in the ELM3 Rural Cases pilot and received the HTRHN Scholarship for a Summer Studentship investigating Disaster Preparedness on the West Coast.  I am extremely passionate about rural health and pre-hospital medicine, and am looking forward to connecting students to the awesome opportunities that are available. Outside of medicine, I am an endurance trail runner, having run an accumulated 667.8km across all of the Great Walks over the 2024/2025 summer.

Tēnā koutou ngā tauira o te hauora taiwhenua o Aotearoa,

E mihi ana ki a koutou, ngā kanohi hou, ngā ringa rau o āpōpō, e whakapau kaha ana ki te manaaki i ngā hapori maha o te motu. Ko koutou ngā kaiarataki mō ngā whānau e noho ana ki ngā rohe taiwhenua, e whai ana i te tika me te ora mō te katoa.

Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui i roto i ā koutou mahi ako me ngā mahi hauora. He mahi whakahirahira kei mua i a koutou, ā, kei konei mātou katoa hei tautoko i a koutou.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou mō tō koutou ngākau nui ki te mahi tahi, te mahi pono, me te mahi aroha mō ngā whānau me ngā hapori o Aotearoa.

Ko Angel Loren Harbers tōku ingoa, engari ka kīia hoki ahau ko Anahera Chan.

I was born in Caboolture, Australia, while my three younger sisters were born in Te Tai Tokerau, Aotearoa (New Zealand). E noho ana ahau ki Tāmaki Makaurau, engari ko Houhora tōku kainga.

Tēnei te taha o tōku koro

Ko Puhangatohora te maunga

Ko Tāheke te awa

Ko Ngātokimatawhaorua te waka

Ko Hokianga te moana

Ko Rāhiri te rangatira

Ko Ngāti Pākau te hapū

Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi

Tēnei te taha o tōku kuia

Ko Maunga Piko te maunga

Ko Kurahaupō te waka

Ko Pohurihanga te tangata

Ko Pārengarenga te wahapū

Ko Waitiki te awa

Ko Mareitu te urupā

Ko Te Hāpua te kāinga

Ko Te Hiku o Te Ika te marae

Ko Ngāti Kurī te iwi

I am currently in my fourth year of the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Auckland. I recently completed my Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours), focusing on Student Experiences of Rural Health Interprofessional Education Programmes: A Photovoice Study. In 2022, I published a paper examining the barriers to accessing diabetes eye screening in rural communities. I am now conducting research, supported by the Auckland Radiology Group, on the challenges of accessing radiological services in Hamilton and Whangārei.

In addition to my academic work, I am currently developing a healthcare start-up aimed at addressing barriers to accessing healthcare in rural areas. This initiative aligns closely with my passion for improving rural, Indigenous, and women’s health outcomes, which are deeply tied to systemic injustices and power imbalances.

I am incredibly excited about joining the SoRHA Exec Committee as Māori Co-chair. This role is an opportunity to advocate for culturally safe healthcare, elevate Māori voices, and help address the systemic inequities faced by rural communities. I look forward to working alongside a passionate team to create meaningful, community-driven solutions.

Ngā manaakitanga ngā mihi nui,

Angel Loren Harbers (Anahera Chan)

Hey there! My name is Chelsea, I’m a 3rd year Medical Imaging student at Unitec in Auckland. I am super excited to be SoRHA’s social media representative for 2026! I have always had a gravitation towards making a positive impact on the community and one of these was through Hauora Taiwhenua’s Rural School Visit. I found myself naturally telling everyone about healthcare, my career pathway through social media, and encouraging other healthcare students to participate in this amazing experience; so I thought, why not make it official and promote rural health as part of the SoRHA team. I hope to help spread the word and encourage you to join us in Healthcare and care for our community and future generations to come! <3