The future of Māori nursing may well have arrived in the form of Huria Wharerau who has just won a $10,000 scholarship funded by Braemar Charitable Trust.
The Trust works to advance healthcare equity and access and improve health outcomes in our community. It is the 100% owner of Braemar Hospital, one of New Zealand’s largest private hospitals.
Braemar Charitable Trust has a range of charitable activities it funds, including free community surgeries, scholarships, health sector capability building and medical research, all underpinned by an equity and access lens. In particular, it funds three $10,000 scholarships each year for University of Waikato students, two in the Bachelor of Nursing programme and one in the Bachelor of Health.
Huria (Ngā Puhi, Ngati Tamatera and Ngai Terangi) is from Paeroa and originally worked as a receptionist in a health clinic but became very interested in the clinical aspect. “This is when I moved into a healthcare assistant role and where I really started to think about healthcare - why it matters so much, and the importance of having equitable care, and wanting to be part of the change.”
Huria applied to the Bachelor of Nursing programme at the University of Waikato and is now in her second year of the three-year degree. She won one of the two $10,000 nursing scholarships funded by Braemar Charitable Trust.
“Growing up as Māori, values like manaakitanga and whanaungatanga were part of everyday life, and they naturally led me toward a caring profession,” Huria says. “What really pushed me into nursing was seeing the health challenges many Māori face. I wanted to be someone who could make a difference, someone who understands our culture and can provide care that respects and uplifts our people. Nursing lets me support others, advocate for equity, and help create a health system that works better for Māori.”
She is grateful for the Braemar Charitable Trust scholarship saying it will not only support her learning, but is also a real financial help. Huria also gets to do a placement at Braemar Hospital as part of the scholarship. “This scholarship will provide me with experiences that will fill my kete of knowledge and enhance my practice.”
Huria also attended a recent Nursing Council of Māori Nurses which she says has further ignited her passion for making a change for Māori. “I am looking forward to the future of Māori nurses,” Huria says.
Braemar Charitable Trust Manager Paula Baker says the Trust has five pillars in its charitable purpose, one of which is growing the medical workforce and their knowledge and skills. “We are constantly talking with our communities about needs and reflecting that in the work we do. We have proudly funded these scholarships for several years now as we believe in the importance of enabling the next generation of the medical workforce,” she says.
“Our congratulations to Huria and we hope she enjoys all the opportunities that a Braemar Charitable Trust scholarship offers.”
The Trust enabled nearly 160 free community surgeries in the past financial year with the help of surgeons and anaesthetists who are credentialed to work at Braemar Hospital and who donate their time. The Trust pays for additional costs such as nursing and consumables, which Braemar Hospital provides at cost. Surgery recipients are referred by specialists, GPs, dentists and nurse practitioners as well community health providers.
Braemar Charitable Trust has made it simple for anyone to donate to its work via an online donations portal where donors can choose to fund a specific procedure for someone or make donations towards a scholarship or general fund, or research. To find out more, sign up here for news and updates
ENDS
Media inquiries – not for publication. For more information contact:
Paula Baker MNZM
Trust Manager, Braemar Charitable Trust
027 224 2316
