A helping hand for three careers

CAREER PLANS: Tia Waitai-Henare, pictured receiving her Te Hiku Hauora scholarship from trust board member Joan Norman, plans to use her education for the benefit of her people.

Three careers received a helping hand in the form of the 2015 Te Hiku Hauora educational and sports scholarships, presented at Te Kao's Potahi Marae, last month.

The annual scholarships, first presented 10 years ago, are awarded to students with ancestral links to Muriwhenua tribes in the fields of medicine, dentistry and sport.

The Zarella (Tere) Gravenor Scholarship, for dentistry students enrolled at Otago University, was presented to 19-year-old Tia Waitai-Henare (Ngati Kuri, Ngati Kahu, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Ngai Takoto), who was raised in Kaitaia and attended Te Rangi Aniwaniwa. She is now in her second year of study at Otago.

Tia has been a performing member of Muriwhenua kapa haka since 2009, and represented Te Hiku o Te Ika at Nga Manu Korero from 2009-2011. In 2011 she was named Te Wananga o Aotearoa Youth Ambassador of the Year, and was dux of Tai Wananga in 2013.

She says that upon completion of her studies she would like to serve her community by specialising in certain areas of Maori oral health (such as providing dental service for Maori by Maori and educating whanau about the dental needs for tamariki).

"I am committed to ensuring that I achieve success in my chosen field, not only for myself but for my whanau, hapu, iwi and community," she said.

The Muriwai Popata Scholarship was awarded to 26-year-old Paraone Te Maru Payne (Ngati Te Ao, Te Rarawa), who is in his fourth year of studying medicine at Auckland University. He intends to apply for a position in the Pukawakawa programme, which will take him to Northland DHB hospitals and health clinics, next year, and is hoping for a placement in Kaitaia so he can build relationships with the doctors and health workers of his rohe.

"It has been my desire since taking up medicine to return to my iwi, to Te Rarawa, and to practise medicine within our community," he said.

The Hauora Sport Scholarship was presented to 23-year-old Whiria Meltzer (Ngai Takoto), a former Te Rangi Aniwaniwa student who is nearing completion of his personal training studies in Auckland. He played rugby for the Northland in the ITM Cup for three years, and hopes to be selected for the North Harbour team this year.

"As a personal trainer I want to be better demonstrate the meaning of 'healthy well-being' for our people and to guide them in the right direction through healthy lifestyles and exercise. They will learn what it is to have choices of nutritious kai," he said.

"The first step is always the hardest, but if you have someone to motivate and awhi you along the way then success is achievable. I believe that the whanau o Hauora have helped me take that first step, and now I am on my journey to starting my own personal training business.

"I would like to be a positive role model for my teina and my whanau and everyone I encounter," he added. "Dream it, believe it, and achieve it. Tenei te mihi mahana ki a loutou e te whanau o Hauora mo to koutou nei awhina tino nunui."

The scholarships were presented at the seventh annual kaumatua luncheon at Potahi, where more than 100 kaumatua from all over Te Tai Tokerau were hosted. The special guest speakers included Northland MP Winston Peters (Ngati Wai), NZ First MP Pita Paraone (Ngati Hine) and Dr Hinemoa Elder (Te Aupouri, Ngti Kur, Te Rarawa, Ngi Takoto).

Entertainment was provided by E Toru Nga Mea.

Te Hiku Hauora Trust secretary Tom Allan said the day was an outstanding success.

"We hold this day to recognise kaumatua and kuia in our community, and to show our appreciation for them," he added.