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Ngā Mahi Hauora Taiwhenua

Rural Health Careers

Rural Health Careers

A strong rural health workforce is essential to ensuring rural communities can access the healthcare services they need, now and into the future.

Hauora Taiwhenua supports rural rangatahi to explore and pursue careers in health through its Rural Health Careers Promotion Programme. We provide information, advice, experiences, and opportunities that help students understand the wide range of health careers available and the pathways into them.

We work with secondary and tertiary students, schools, tertiary providers, health professionals, and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand to encourage more rural students to enter health-related study and training. Our activities include rural school visits, webinars, noho marae, health practice visits, conferences, scholarships, and other initiatives designed to inspire the next generation of rural health professionals.

We work closely with the Students of Rural Health Aotearoa Chapter (SoRHA) to support students throughout their health training journey.

Encouraging more rural students into health careers is an important part of addressing workforce shortages and helping to build a sustainable rural health workforce for the future.

Check out our upcoming events:

View our events calendar here.

Relevant news

Open Now! Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Secondary School Leavers Health Career Scholarships 2026

Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network is pleased to open applications for the 2026 Rural New Zealand Health Scholarships, in association with Mobile Health Group, Waitaha Primary Health and the Townshend-Thomas Charitable Community Trust, providing financial support for rural students embarking on health studies in 2027. This year, we are offering five scholarships valued at $5,000 each to support rural youth entering their first year of full-time undergraduate study in nursing, medicine, or allied health in 2027 across New Zealand universities, polytechnics, or private training establishments (PTEs). In addition, we are delighted to feature a dedicated scholarship specifically for a student graduating from Hauraki Plains College, proudly funded by the Townshend-Thomas Charitable Community Trust.

From classrooms to rural clinics: a Waikato and Coromandel Rural School Visit

We started our Waikato/Coromandel RSV bright and early in Auckland, met the team, and packed everything into the cars before heading south for our first visit to Pukekohe. It was a really nice way to start the week and gave us a chance to settle into presenting together before properly hitting the road. After that, we continued down to Mangakino, where we stayed for our first night and got ready for a much busier second day.

Finding Her Place in Rural Nursing: Jess McCurdy

A volunteer shift at the Rural Health Hub at Fieldays changed the direction of Jess McCurdy’s nursing career and set her on the path to rural practice in Paeroa. While studying at the University of Waikato, Jess gained experience in a range of areas, including orthopaedics, intensive care, older persons' care, rehabilitation, endoscopy, prison nursing, and community care. With eight years’ experience as a Health Care Assistant behind her, she had seen a broad spectrum of healthcare settings. Yet like many students, she was still unsure where she truly fit.

Member Spotlight: Caitlin Syme

Tell us about yourself and why you decided to become a Member of the Network. Kia ora, I’m Caitlin, a Trainee Intern based in Ōtautahi. Growing up, I’ve lived in both big cities and small rural towns in Aotearoa, Australia, and Canada. I recently completed a Hauora Taiwhenua Rural School Visit around the Whāngarei region, which then prompted me to join the Network. The programme was definitely one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had so far in medical school, and becoming a member felt like the best way to stay involved, contribute to rural health equity, and connect with others who also care about supporting our rural whānau. I’ve included a picture of all seven of us from the trip, when we visited Tāne Mahuta, the largest living kauri tree, which was an unreal experience. I’m the one right in the middle!

Taking Rural Health Careers on the Road — Rural School Visits

Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network and Students of Rural Health Aotearoa (SoRHA) hit the road once again, bringing the Rural Health Careers Promotion Programme to colleges across the country. The kaupapa? To spark interest in health careers among rural rangatahi. With energy, enthusiasm, and a boot full of tendon hammers, tertiary health student volunteers visited years 9–13 students, running interactive workshops packed with practical skills, personal stories, and real-world advice. It’s all about helping rural students see themselves in a wide range of health careers — whether that’s in pharmacy, oral health, paramedicine, psychology, or any of the many other vital roles that keep our communities thriving. These visits show that a future in health is not only possible, but meaningful — and that rural students have a place in it.

Happening this week! Rural Health Careers Promotion Programme Webinars

The rural health workforce needs you now more than ever! Are you curious about a career in rural health but not sure where to start? Join our Rural Health Careers Webinar Series this week and hear directly from university students who are studying to become the next generation of rural health professionals. Each session focuses on a different career pathway — giving you real insights into what it’s like to study and train in your chosen field.

Inspiring Gisborne Rangatahi into Rural Health Careers

Hauora Taiwhenua recently wrapped up the Gisborne leg of its Rural Health Careers Promotion Programme (8–12 September), with a team of passionate tertiary health students visiting local schools, practices, and community spaces to inspire rangatahi into health careers. Delivered in partnership with Students of Rural Health Aotearoa (SoRHA), the programme connects rural high school students with young role models studying medicine, nursing, midwifery, allied health, and other disciplines. Supported by Primary Health Organisations, the initiative creates a unique space for rangatahi to explore their options and see a future for themselves in health — and, importantly, in serving their own communities.

Leading health experts to advise on new medical school

The University of Waikato has named an expert advisory board to guide the establishment of the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine. The Medical Advisory Board comprises leaders with diverse knowledge and experience from across the country’s health sector, including representatives from the public and private health systems, general practice, rural health, community health, psychiatry, health equity, women’s health and health technology.

Spotlight on Emerging Health Innovators: HLTH USA & Spark Accelerate Winners Announced

We’re thrilled to announce the recipients of two exciting student opportunities made possible through our partnership with Spark Health. After receiving a large number of outstanding applications, we’re proud to introduce Chanel Brocherie, who will represent Hauora Taiwhenua at the HLTH USA 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, and Cameron Dickey, who has been selected as runner-up and will attend the Spark Accelerate 2025 summit in Auckland.

Training Where It’s Needed Most: RMIP and the Future of Rural Medicine

When the University of Otago launched the Rural Medical Immersion Programme (RMIP) in 2007, it was a bold experiment. Could a small group of medical students really learn just as much, if not more, by spending a year in rural communities, far from the teaching hospitals of New Zealand’s main centres?

FREE STUDENT TRIP TO @HLTH USA 2025 IN LAS VEGAS!

In collaboration with Spark Health, we’re offering an incredible opportunity for one of our student members to attend the HLTH USA 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, taking place 19–22 October. Check out the flyer below for all the information on how to apply! This is your chance to be part of one of the world’s leading health innovation events!

Open Now! Rural Health Scholarships Set to Reach More Students in 2025

Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network is partnering with Mobile Health Group to offer our rural youth financial support in their pursuit of health studies. We’re very pleased to announce the significant increase its support for rural students by offering fourteen scholarships in 2025—up from the usual four. This year’s boost in scholarship numbers was made possible thanks to a generous one-off donation from The Combined Community Trusts.