Pasifika And Māori Medical Scholarships Awarded

Student Aimee Watene received the WellSouth Matatau Award 2025 for Māori students, while Tegen Benseman received the WellSouth Tautua Award for Pacific students.

The award is given to University of Otago Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) Māori and Pacific final year medical students who are based in Dunedin. Each received a $2,000 dollar scholarship at the recent Te Kura Whaiora A Ōtepoti University of Otago Dunedin School of Medicine awards dinner.

Dr Letava Tafuna’i is WellSouth Senior Clinical Advisor, Pasifika as well as Associate Dean Pacific, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago.

“The award was established in 2023 to honour students who demonstrated academic excellence in general practice across both course work and examinations throughout their three clinical years of advanced learning in medicine, and showed commitment to improving equity and health outcomes in marginalised and vulnerable communities,” she said.

“The award was launched not only to acknowledge the hard work of the students, but to foster an interest in primary care as a career path and support their pathway into speciality training.

“WellSouth is proud to support and encourage this growing workforce,” said Dr Tafuna’i.

“They will bring their own cultural perspective and experience to the primary health care sector, helping break down barriers and addressing health inequities within the health system.”

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