Ngāi Tahu-Whānau Āwhina Plunket Nursing Scholarship Winners Announced

Two passionate advocates for better Māori health outcomes have been awarded Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s Mere Harper and Ria Tikini Memorial Scholarship for 2025.

Reia Hartgers and Chantal Vanisi each received $1500 towards their Bachelor of Nursing Degrees, supported by Ngāi Tahu and Plunket.

The annual $3000 scholarship commemorates the work of Mere Harper and Ria Tikini, two highly respected Māori midwives and healers from Karitāne, who were key figures in Plunket’s beginnings.

It is awarded to full-time nursing students of Ngāi Tahu descent who are in their final year of study.

Scholarship awardee Chantal Vanisi is completing her Bachelor of Nursing at Otago Polytechnic in Dunedin. “This scholarship is an honour and a reminder of the legacy I carry as a Ngāi Tahu nurse, especially as I whakapapa to Karitāne where Mere Harper and Ria Tikini lived and worked,” Chantal says. “It strengthens my commitment to delivering care that uplifts and respects our whānau. As a registered nurse, I’m dedicated to keeping Māori health at the forefront of my practice and contributing to a future where our people experience equitable and empowering healthcare.”

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Scholarship awardee Reia Hartgers is completing her Bachelor of Nursing at Ara Institute of Canterbury and her goal is to specialise in neonatal nursing incorporating Māori cultural values. “I’m incredibly grateful to receive this scholarship,” Reia says. “It will enable me to concentrate on my upcoming placement and my whānau without also having to work weekends. It’s a privilege to be supported, honouring the legacy of Mere Harper and Ria Tikini as I work towards improving Māori health outcomes.”

Whānau Āwhina Plunket Chief Executive, Fiona Kingsford says it is a pleasure to support students such as Chantal and Reia. “This scholarship celebrates Plunket’s history of strong and inspirational wāhine, while also helping support the next generation of Māori nurses to bring their valuable cultural knowledge to the profession. We look forward to seeing the positive impact both Reia and Chantal will have in their health careers.’’

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Chief Operating Officer, Kendall Flutey, says the iwi values the opportunity to work with Whānau Āwhina Plunket through this shared initiative. “Assisting Reia and Chantal to complete their nursing studies is a fitting way to honour the legacy of Mere Harper and Ria Tikini. This scholarship clearly aligns with our tribal whakataukī, Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei, which speaks to the importance of looking after the wellbeing of future generations.”

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s Mere Harper and Ria Tikini Memorial Scholarship was established in 2020.

About Whānau Āwhina Plunket

Pēpi, tamariki and whānau are at the heart of Whānau Āwhina Plunket. The charity is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest health and wellbeing support service for tamariki – seeing 290,000 under-fives in 2024. About three-quarters of newborns are enrolled with Whānau Āwhina Plunket each year. Our nurses provide clinical assessments, and along with Kaiāwhina and Community Karitāne, support whānau and families, through home and clinic visits, as well as PlunketLine 0800 933 922, a free 24/7 telephone advice service for parents.

Our website plunket.org.nz is one of the country’s most widely read digital child health resources, with 1.8 million visits each year. It is available data-free through the Zero Data portal at zero.govt.nz, and you can choose to view it in English or te reo Māori.

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