Sir Māui Pōmare scholarships for nursing students
WITT kaimahi, nursing kaiako and ākonga were among hundreds who attended the 90th year of commemorations for Sir Māui Pōmare at Waitara’s Owae Marae last weekend, with scholarships presented to honour the legacy of Aotearoa’s first Māori doctor.
WITT Bachelor of Nursing ākonga Monique Betteridge and Tia Lambert were presented with Tā Māui Pōmare scholarships which are open to Māori students enrolled in Year One of the Bachelor of Nursing to cover fees for their first year of study.
“This scholarship is very special as Sir Māui Pōmare is a Taranaki tūpuna [ancestor] and the first Māori medical doctor of his time. Having our ākonga aware of this legacy he left is important as they undertake study to become Registered Nurses,” says Allana Prestney (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Ātiawa) – WITT Kaitakawaenga/Pastoral Support / Scholarships.
Caption: Allana Prestney with Monique Betteridge and Tia Lambert
“The establishment of two Sir Māui Pōmare Scholarships was announced at Sir Māui Pōmare Day in 2009. The scholarships were presented by the [former] Chief Executive of the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) to encourage and support prospective Māori students into nursing,” she says.
Born in 1876 in Urenui, Pōmare (pictured above) went on to become New Zealand's first Māori medical officer as well as a doctor, and was a leading political figure, including serving as the Minister of Health in 1925. During his career, he championed the health and wellbeing of Māori people, including advocating for access to proper care and housing.
Te Ao Māori at core of holistic health care
Tia says the scholarship is “a huge help for myself and my whānau. I feel incredibly privileged and grateful to have received the Tā Māui Pōmare scholarship.”
She has worked in mental health and addictions services for 10 years in support and cultural roles. “I’d always known nursing was the next step in my career as I feel it’s an influential role where I could contribute and have a bigger impact in Māori hauora [holistic health and wellbeing].”
“My plan beyond the Bachelor of Nursing is to specialise in working in mental health, addictions and trauma, whilst upholding Te Ao Māori, and elevating Māori and Māori hauora.”
Allana says the commemoration day was a major highlight for WITT kaimahi, and especially so for herself to witness this significant experience for the scholarship recipients.
“Monique is on her Mātauranga Māori journey and had not ever been part of a pōwhiri at Owae Marae, so it was my pleasure to take her onto our marae for her first time. Seeing the nerves drift away to make way for excitement and accomplishment as a first year Neehi Māori [Māori nurse] was beautiful to watch. Tia was more familiar in this space so the excitement for her was also beautiful to experience.”
Caption: Owae Mare during the commemoration.
“The other highlight for them both was the presence of Te Arikinui Kuini Ngā Wai hono i te po (the Māori Queen) as they were acknowledged as the recipients of the scholarship in a packed wharenui after the address by Miria Pōmare, Sir Māui’s great granddaughter.”
Top caption: (from left): Sir Māui Pomare scholarship recipients Monique Betteridge (second from left) and Tia Lambert (second from right) with WITT nursing kaiako Helen Bingham, Helen Lelean and Tara Malone.